Germany's population reaches an all-time high

Germany's Federal Statistical Office says refugees from Ukraine have helped push the country's population to its highest levels, with more than 84 million people currently living in the most populous country in the European Union.

Germany has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, and by some measures its older population, but its wealth, demand for labor and a relatively open immigration policy made it an attractive target for immigrants even before the European Union opened its doors to Ukrainians fleeing their country after the Russian war.

In a report released on Tuesday, the Federal Statistics Office said the population rose by 1 percent, or 843,000 people, in the first half of 2022. The population grew by just 0.1 percent over the whole of 2021.

Germany recorded a net emigration of 750,000 people from Ukraine during the same period.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news