At the end of 2025, around 390,000 people in Germany were receiving basic benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz, AsylbLG). This was 15%, or around 71,400 people, fewer than a year earlier. The figures come from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). The number of recipients had already fallen by around 10% in 2024.
Fewer asylum applications as a possible reason
One possible explanation is the sharp decline in the number of first-time asylum applications. According to figures from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), published by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), 113,236 first-time applications were submitted in Germany in 2025. A year earlier, the figure was 229,751, representing a decline of 50.7%. However, these figures alone do not show how much this decline contributed to the decrease in the number of benefit recipients.
A change in residence status can also mean that a person is no longer included in these statistics. People who have been granted asylum or officially recognised as refugees receive other social benefits instead of AsylbLG benefits if they need financial support. Destatis also points this out.
Government spending also fell
In 2025, gross public spending on benefits for asylum seekers amounted to around €6.2 billion. This was 8.2% less than in 2024. The spending figures cover the entire year, while the number of recipients is reported as of the end of the year.
What does this mean for recipients?
The 15% decline refers to the number of recipients, not to a 15% reduction in the amount paid to each individual. Basic benefits are intended to cover everyday needs, including food, accommodation, heating and clothing. Additional benefits are also available, for example in cases of illness, pregnancy and childbirth.
Sources and further information:
Federal Statistical Office — recipient numbers and expenditure: https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Soziales/Asylbewerberleistungen/_inhalt.html
European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) — BAMF annual figures for 2025: https://dip.euaa.europa.eu/developments/germany/bamf-publishes-brochure-key-figures-asylum-2025
ZDFheute: https://www.zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/asylbewerber-leistungen-weniger-empfaenger-100.html
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