Poles are leaving Germany: a historic change after 25 years

The latest data showed that for the first time this century, the number of Poles leaving Germany, Austria and Sweden exceeded the number of arrivals. One of the reasons for this situation is the lower employment of Poles abroad. Details are given by the Polish Gazeta.Pl .

In 2024, Germany, Austria and Sweden had a negative migration balance with Poland, according to the Polish Economic Institute. The greatest difference between the inflow and outflow of Poles was observed in Germany (-8.7 thousand people). In Austria, the balance of migration of Poles amounted to -529 people (compared to +705 people in 2023), and in Sweden — -54 people (compared to +2.7 thousand people in 2023).

"In each of the mentioned countries, this is the first time in the XXI century when more Poles left than arrived," the Institute writes.

Meanwhile, in other European countries, the level of net migration of Poles has decreased, but is not negative. In the Netherlands, this figure was 2,600 people in 2024 (compared to 6,900 a year earlier), and in Norway — 1,600 people (compared to 2,000 in 2023). A noticeable decrease in the balance of net migration of Poles was also recorded in Denmark, where it was 130 people in 2024 (compared to 1800 in 2023).

According to the Institute of Employment, a decrease in the level of net migration from European countries to Poland is accompanied, among other things, by a decrease in the employment of Poles abroad through employment agencies. In 2024, the number of Poles employed abroad through employment agencies amounted to 137,400 people. This is the second lowest figure (in 2020 it was 136.6 people) for the period 2018-2024. The number of Poles employed abroad through employment agencies in 2024 decreased by 5% year-on-year.

"Despite the decrease in the migration balance of Poles in various countries in 2024, Poles still make up a significant part of the foreign-born population in seven OECD countries (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which includes 36 countries)," the study says.

The largest share of Poles born abroad was recorded in Iceland (28% in 2024). In Norway, Germany and Ireland, this figure was 10-11%. In Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK, the share of Poles among the population born abroad was 6-7%.