938 thousand victims of crimes committed by foreigners from prominent asylum-seeking countries
A new analysis of police crime statistics in Germany has revealed that nearly one million people in the country have been victims of crimes committed by suspects from the largest countries of origin for refugees since 2015. These figures are based on police crime statistics (PKS) data collected in response to an inquiry from the parliamentary group of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), and these results have reignited the debate over immigration and crime in the country.
Between 2015 and 2024, approximately 426,000 German citizens and 512,000 foreigners were recorded as victims of crimes committed by suspects from ten countries that are among the main sources of asylum seekers to Germany. These countries include Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Iran, and others. The total number of victims associated with suspects from these countries is approximately 938,000 people.
Although it is theoretically possible that some of these crimes were committed by tourists or visitors from those countries, experts believe that this possibility is weak, given the nature of the countries involved. It is likely that most of the suspects are refugees or residents in Germany. Syrians top the list with approximately 136,000 German victims, followed by Afghans, Iraqis, and Moroccans. However, experts emphasize that this ranking primarily reflects the size of the communities residing in the country, rather than a higher crime rate by nature.
The number of victims has steadily increased since 2015, in parallel with the rising number of refugees arriving in Germany. A clear decline was recorded in 2020 and 2021, which is attributed to the impact of the Corona pandemic that reduced movement and social activity. However, critics point out that the data lacks full context, as it does not include a comparison with crimes committed by German citizens, nor does it detail the types of crimes that can range from petty theft to murder.
Experts remain divided on the existence of a direct link between nationality and criminal behavior. While some believe that difficult social and economic conditions such as poverty and weak integration opportunities are key factors for crime among refugees, others point to cultural and structural factors, including prevailing patriarchal patterns in some predominantly Muslim communities. Despite differing viewpoints, these figures reignite the political debate in Germany over issues of immigration, integration, and public safety.