Germany migration costs estimated at 400 billion euros

An analysis by journalist Björn Harms indicates that Germany's migration policies have cost taxpayers at least 400 billion euros over the last decade. According to data compiled from federal and state ministries, municipal statistics, and government documents, the German federal government alone spent approximately 242 billion euros on refugee-related expenses between 2016 and 2025. State governments contributed more than 100 billion euros, with the remainder covering costs for municipalities, healthcare, education, and the justice system.

The report highlights how migrant accommodation has evolved into a significant economic sector. Harms' survey of German districts found at least 4,437 collective accommodation facilities housing nearly 295,000 people. For example, the Hamburg-based company Fördern & Wohnen, which manages asylum seeker housing, saw its turnover grow from 60 million euros in 2013 to 747 million euros by 2025.

While the 400 billion euro figure is an estimate, some academic projections suggest even higher long-term impacts. Professor Bernd Raffelhüschen of the University of Freiburg estimated in a 2024 study that the long-term costs of mass immigration could reach 19.2 trillion euros, though this figure is based on broader economic consequences rather than confirmed public expenditures.