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Naturalizations in NRW: Syrians represent the largest group
- Isabelle Manoli
- Nov 19
- 2 min read
The number of naturalizations in North Rhine-Westphalia has increased significantly in recent years . One key reason: Around ten years after the large-scale refugee influx from Syria, more and more people are meeting the requirements for a German passport. In 2024 alone, more than 24,000 Syrians in North Rhine-Westphalia received German citizenship. Since 2021, a total of 66,366 Syrian citizens have been naturalized. This means that Syrians now represent the largest group of naturalizations in the most populous federal state.
The strong development is also reflected in the overall statistics: At the end of 2024, almost 288,000 Syrian nationals lived in North Rhine-Westphalia – almost nine times as many as in 2014. The influx was particularly strong in 2015 and 2016, when many people fled to Europe to escape the war in Syria.
Regional priorities and social development
A particularly large number of Syrians have found a new home in the Ruhr region . With over 125,000 people, almost half of all Syrian nationals in North Rhine-Westphalia live there. The cities of Essen, Dortmund, Wuppertal, Bochum, and the district of Recklinghausen have the highest population numbers. This regional concentration is increasingly shaping the region's social and cultural life. The demographic structure has also changed. While the proportion of men among Syrian nationals was around two-thirds in 2015, it has fallen to below 60 percent in recent years due to family reunification. This reflects long-term integration into family structures, which is also important for naturalization .
Conclusion Naturalization of Syrians in NRW
The figures impressively demonstrate how deeply rooted the Syrian community has become in North Rhine-Westphalia. Many people who arrived during the refugee movements from 2014 to 2016 have successfully integrated and now contribute to social life with a German passport. North Rhine-Westphalia thus remains a key federal state for naturalization and integration processes in Germany.
