Refugee numbers in Hamburg are falling: What does that mean for the city?

Refugee numbers in Hamburg are falling: What does that mean for the city?

The current situation in Hamburg shows a significant development in the area of ​​refugee registrations. In May 2025, a total of 830 refugees registered in the Hanseatic city. Interestingly, that is almost 100 more people than in April. Despite this increase, the number of asylum seekers coming to Hamburg has fallen sharply compared to the previous year. In May 2024, over 1,300 asylum and protection seekers were registered, which corresponds to a decrease of almost 40 percent NDR reported.

What is particularly striking is that the majority of newly arrived refugees come from Afghanistan, Ghana, Syria and Turkey. In addition, over 300 people from Ukraine found their way to Hamburg. An increase in Russian citizens fleeing Russia has also been recorded.

Capacity and accommodation

The occupancy rate of accommodation in Hamburg is currently around 92 percent. In the previous year, capacities were consistently used at over 95 percent. Despite this improvement, some people still have to be accommodated in tents. In view of the ongoing challenges, the city has decided to create around 3,400 new places for refugees by the end of 2025. In total, the Senate plans to make more than 52,000 places available to ease the situation.

To better meet demand, several interim locations have been set up, including short-term rental hotels. These measures are in accordance with the law to protect public safety and order, as the city administration explains in a statement. Anyone interested can get an overview of the different locations via the official websites, such as hamburg.de, see.

Despite this increase in living space, the demand for accommodation remains high. The number of people looking for accommodation exceeds the available capacity. Nevertheless, the situation is improving with a slight reduction in the number of excess residents, i.e. those who are waiting for subsequent accommodation.

Overall statistics and outlook

The current refugee discussion is accompanied by a large number of political and media voices. The current data from the Federal Statistical Office provides valuable information and can be incorporated into the debate about asylum seekers, protection seekers and immigrants. These statistics are an important basis for political decision-making, as the figures on the website of the Statistics portals show.

The situation in Hamburg is a reflection of the challenges that many cities within Germany are facing. While some progress has been made, the need to provide refugees with safe and decent accommodation remains undiminished. The city of Hamburg sees itself challenged to find creative solutions in order to continue to be there for everyone in need in the future.