Nowadays, Eritreans in Germany is a widely discussed and debated topic in society. Its relevance has become increasingly evident as the years go by, and its impact has been felt in a variety of areas, from politics to technology, culture and economics. Eritreans in Germany has captured the attention of experts and the general population, generating growing interest in understanding its implications and seeking solutions to the challenges it presents. In this article, we will explore Eritreans in Germany in depth, analyzing its impact, implications, and possible avenues to address this issue effectively.
Total population | |
---|---|
75,735 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Frankfurt · Kassel · Hamburg · Duisburg | |
Languages | |
Tigrinya · Tigre · Kunama · Nara · Afar, · Beja · Saho · Bilen · Arabic · English · German | |
Religion | |
Christian (Eritrean Orthodox, Catholic, P'ent'ay) · Islam |
Eritreans in Germany are citizens and residents of Germany who were born in Eritrea or are of Eritrean descent. As of 2020, there are at least 75,735 Eritreans living in Germany.
Interaction between Germany and the Horn of Africa dates back to at least the early 15th century; three Ethiopian monks, Petrus, Bartholomeus, and Antonius, are recorded as having been in Konstanz from 1416–1418, and participated in the Council of Constance. In the Late Middle Ages, the Kingdom of Ethiopia also controlled much of present-day Eritrea. Thus, it is possible that these monks originated in what is now Eritrea.
Since the outbreak of the Eritrean War of Independence, many Eritreans have fled their homes as refugees and asylum-seekers. During the war (1961-1991), an estimated 25,000 Eritreans sought refuge in Germany.
Eritrean supporters of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front had a strong presence in Germany. Eritrea Hilfswerk Deutschland is a German organization founded in 1976 which supported the EPLF's Eritrean Relief Association (which itself had a branch in Cologne). The Research and Information Centre on Eritrea, founded in London in 1979, had a branch in Germany as well.
As of 2020, most Eritrean nationals residing in Germany live in Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria. The following table lists German states by Eritrean population.
Rank | State | Population (2020) |
---|---|---|
1 | Hesse | 9,780 |
2 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 8,865 |
3 | Bavaria | 8,160 |
4 | Baden-Württemberg | 5,510 |
5 | Lower Saxony | 2,585 |
6 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 2,530 |
7 | Schleswig-Holstein | 2,095 |
8 | Hamburg | 2,050 |
9 | Saxony | 1,475 |
10 | Thuringia | 1,325 |
11 | Saxony-Anhalt | 1,190 |
12 | Brandenburg | 1,065 |
13 | Berlin | 945 |
14 | Saarland | 670 |
15 | Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | 660 |
16 | Bremen | 395 |