Number of new participants in integration courses in Germany 2005-2019

In 2019, the number of new participants in German integration courses amounted to 176,445, of which 73,407 were participating voluntarily. Voluntary participants may be seeking to simply learn more about Germany as their country of residence, while those obligated may be required to do so by law, depending on their status, reason for coming to Germany and German language skills. Obligatory integration course completion or failure could ultimately influence a participant’s future regarding staying in Germany.

Integration courses

The German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees is responsible for, among other things, overseeing integration courses on a national level. This topic has become particularly urgent for Germany after refugee migration to the country increased in recent years. German integration courses differ by type. The most visited is the general integration course, followed by alphabetization and courses for parents and women arriving in Germany. The largest number of participants came from Syria, Romania and Turkey.

Course withdrawals

Like any course, integration courses also experience their share of withdrawals. These happen the most in general integration and alphabetization courses, but also in youth integration courses. The highest withdrawal numbers were recorded among participants from Syria and Iraq.