Turks in Germany: history, culture, and contemporary life
Comprehensive overview of people of Turkish origin in Germany: migration history, identity, cultural life, integration, socioeconomic trends, and contemporary community issues.
Overview
The Turks in Germany constitute a prominent and diverse community whose roots trace mainly to post‑war labor migration. Over decades the population has evolved from largely male guest workers to multi‑generational residents with varied legal statuses, cultural practices and socioeconomic roles. For demographic context and public debate see demographic and policy sources.
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Origins and migration history
Large‑scale migration began after a bilateral recruitment agreement in 1961 when Germany invited workers to fill labour shortages in industry. Migrants arrived primarily during the 1960s and early 1970s; later decades saw family reunification, further labour migration, study migration and arrivals for humanitarian reasons. Many came from different regions of Turkey, bringing regional languages and traditions (origin studies). Among the arrivals were people from minority backgrounds such as Romanlar and others whose experiences have shaped community diversity.
Language and identity
- Language: Turkish remains widely spoken in homes and community life while younger generations are often bilingual, using German in education and public life.
- Identity: identities are plural and can be shaped by generation, religion, regional origin, socioeconomic position and experiences of integration.
- Citizenship: the community includes Turkish citizens, naturalised Germans, dual nationals and people born in Germany of Turkish descent.
Religion, culture and traditions
Religious affiliation is varied: many people of Turkish background identify as Muslim, but practice ranges from secular to observant, and the community also includes Alevi, Christian and non‑religious members. Cultural traditions — such as weddings, circumcision ceremonies (Sünnet) and family rituals — continue to be important for cultural continuity and community life; see descriptions of customary practices on traditional ceremonies. Cuisine, music, clubs and local associations also sustain cultural exchange between Turkish and German societies.
Education, work and socioeconomic integration
Across generations there has been considerable social mobility: many Turkish‑origin Germans have entered diverse professions, higher education and public service, while others continue to face challenges such as educational inequalities, labour‑market barriers and discrimination. Regional differences, local labour markets and access to language and educational support influence outcomes. Policy debates in Germany address education access, training programmes and measures to combat discrimination; historical analyses of the guest‑worker era remain relevant to understanding present conditions (guest‑worker history).
Politics, representation and public life
People of Turkish origin participate in civic life as voters, elected officials, activists and cultural entrepreneurs. Representation in local and national politics has increased over time, though debates about integration, dual nationality and social inclusion persist. Transnational ties and bilateral relations between Germany and Turkey also shape community concerns and public discussion.
Contemporary issues and community resources
Contemporary topics include generational change, language transmission, legal status and the role of community organisations, religious centres and media in supporting social networks. Community organisations, cultural associations, businesses and media outlets serve as bridges between cultures and provide social services, cultural programming and advocacy. For policy overviews and community studies consult demographic and policy sources such as studies and reports and historical accounts of migration reviewing the recruitment era.
Further reading and reliable resources
Scholarly work, government reports and community research provide in‑depth perspectives on migration history, integration patterns and cultural life. General summaries and accessible overviews are available through demographic studies and cultural surveys (demographic sources, regional origin studies) that discuss the community’s evolution and contemporary role in German society.
History
In 1961, the recruitment agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and Turkey was signed. The initiative for the recruitment of Turkish workers in Germany came from Turkey. The agreement was preceded by German recruitment agreements with Italy (1955), Spain and Greece (1960). The Republic of Turkey associated this agreement on labour migration with several objectives. On the one hand, it wanted to reduce its foreign trade deficit (remittances to improve the balance of payments), and on the other hand, the social and economic problems in Turkey were to be alleviated. Initially, there was no thought of the workers known as "guest workers" staying in Germany permanently. In the course of the following years, women and children followed. In the meantime, there are great-grandchildren of the first generation of migrants who are Turkish citizens, although their parents were already born in Germany.
See also: German-Turkish relations and immigration from Turkey to the Federal Republic of Germany
Especially among those Kurds who entered the Federal Republic of Germany with a Turkish passport, there are many who were allowed to stay in the country as (former) asylum seekers or as persons entitled to asylum.
Demographics
In 2018, around three million people with a migration background in Germany had their family or religious roots in Turkey, about half of whom have German citizenship. As is the case with many persons with a migration background from the former recruitment states, there is a disproportionate accumulation of persons with no migration experience of their own, i.e. they were already born in Germany and did not migrate to Germany themselves. Their share among persons of Turkish origin was 54.2 per cent in 2017. This is certainly related to a different trend among people from the former recruitment countries: They have a long-term residence. For example, 78.0 percent of persons with a Turkish migration background have a length of stay in Germany of at least 20 years, and their average length of stay is 29.4 years. Official statistics, such as the Migration Report of the BAMF, record the number of people with Turkish citizenship. There, "persons from Turkey" are defined as a subset of the category "foreigners". Thus, people with German and Turkish citizenship are not recorded. Since there is no Kurdish state, and thus no Kurdish citizenship, most Kurds who originate from Turkey are counted as "persons from Turkey", unless (as can also be the case with ethnic Turks) they have assumed German citizenship.
A decreasing number of statistically recorded "Turks" in Germany is not proof of a decrease in the number of people of Turkish origin in the Federal Republic. Since 1 January 2000, children born here to non-German nationals with a secure residence status in Germany have automatically been granted German nationality and are therefore no longer counted as "Turks" or foreigners.
Even if the approximately 500,000 to 800,000 Kurds who left Turkey are excluded from the group of "Turks", Turks represent the largest group of foreigners living in Germany in 2006: According to the Federal Statistical Office, 6.75 million foreigners lived in Germany at the end of 2006, including 1.739 million Turks. On 31 December 2007, 25.4 per cent of all foreigners living in Germany were Turkish citizens. The share of Turks among all foreigners living in Germany has since fallen by almost half to 13.1 percent overall, while the share of foreigners from Eastern Europe and the Arab region has increased. As of December 31, 2019, there were 1,472,390 Turks with Turkish citizenship living in Germany.
Number of Turkish citizens in Germany (until 1990: old Federal territory only)
- 1961: 000 6.800
- 1971: 0 652.000
- 1981: 1.546.000
- 1991: 1.780.000
- 1998: 2.110.000
- 1999: 2.054.000
- 2001: 1,998,534, of which 746,651 (37.36 %) were born in the Federal Republic of Germany.
- 2002: 1.912.169
- 2003: 1.877.661
- 2004: 1.764.318
- 2005: 1.764.041
- 2006: 1.738.831
- 2007: 1.713.551
- 2008: 1.688.370
- 2009: 1.658.083
- 2010: 1.629.480
- 2011: 1.607.161
- 2012: 1.575.717
- 2013: 1.549.808
- 2014: 1.527.118
- 2015: 1.506.113
- 2016: 1.492.580
- 2017: 1.483.515
- 2018: 1.476.410
- 2019: 1.472.390
- 2020: 1.461.910
Number of people of Turkish origin in Germany
The number of people of Turkish origin in Germany (persons with current or former Turkish citizenship or immigration of at least one parent from Turkey) amounted to
- 2006: 2.495.000
- 2007: 2.527.000
- 2009: 2.502.000
- 2010: 2.485.000
- 2011: 2.956.000
- 2012: 2.998.000
- 2014: 2.859.000
- 2015: 2.851.000
- 2016: 2.797.000
- 2017: 2.774.000
- 2018: 2.769.000
The sharp increase from 2010 to 2011 was due to a change in the way the figures were counted. For the first time, children born as Germans in Germany to parents of Turkish origin were counted. Previously, Germans with both parents having a migration background had not been included in the statistics broken down by origin in order to avoid double counting in the case of different migration backgrounds of the parents.
Naturalisations of previously Turkish citizens
- 1972–1979: 2.219
- 1980: 399
- 1985: 1.310
- 1990: 2.034
- 1995: 31.578
- 1998: 59.664
- 1999: 103.900
- 2000: 82.861
- 2001: 76.574
- 2002: 64.631
- 2003: 56.244
- 2004: 44.465
- 2005: 32.700
- 2006: 33.388
- 2007: 28.861
- 2008: 24.449
- 2009: 24.647
- 2010: 26.192
- 2011: 28.103
- 2012: 33.246
- 2013: 27.970
- 2014: 22.463
- 2015: 19.695
- 2016: 16.290
- 2017: 14.984
- 2018: 16.700
Since 1 January 2000, children born in Germany to Turkish nationals have been granted German nationality by operation of law if at least one of their parents has been legally resident in Germany for eight years and has an unlimited right of residence (section 4(3) StAG). Naturalisation is unnecessary for these children (in contrast to children born before 1 January 2000). However, these children - provided they are not covered by the new regulation of 2014 - must decide when they reach the age of majority, at the latest when they turn 23, whether they wish to give up their Turkish nationality (option model). If they opt for Turkish citizenship or do not make a declaration, they lose their German citizenship. If they opt for German nationality, they must prove that they have lost their Turkish nationality by the time they reach the age of 23, otherwise they will also lose their German nationality (Section 29 StAG). Turkish children who were not yet ten years old on 1 January 2000 and who met the requirements of Section 4 (3) of the Basic Law at the time of their birth were able to acquire German nationality by naturalisation until 31 December 2000 (Section 40b of the Basic Law). Those who were naturalised in accordance with this transitional regulation also fall under the option regulation, i.e. they can lose their German nationality again on their 23rd birthday.
Since the new regulation of the option obligation as of 20 December 2014, those who have "grown up in Germany" according to the definition of the law are no longer subject to the option obligation (section 29 (1 a) StAG). Those who do not fall under the new regulation must opt as before.
Loss of nationality through re-acceptance of Turkish nationality
Since 1 January 2000, the re-acquisition of Turkish nationality after previously having been naturalised in Germany has led to the loss of German nationality. This consequence has come about as a result of the deletion of the so-called domestic clause in section 25 of the German Nationality Act (StAG). An estimated 48,000 former Turkish citizens have lost their German citizenship as a result.
Immigration of persons with German citizenship from Turkey
The return of German nationals from Turkey has increased slightly in recent years:
- 2010: 3.220
- 2011: 3.166
- 2012: 3.227
- 2013: 3.660
- 2014: 4.303
- 2015: 4.732
- 2016: 4.881
- 2017: 4.891
Emigration to Turkey
The number of people (also) with Turkish citizenship living in Germany has been steadily falling since peaking at 2.1 million in 1999 to 1.47 million in 2018, with statisticians citing naturalisations and deaths as well as returnees as reasons.
From 2005 to 2014, more Turks moved from Germany to Turkey than immigrated from there to Germany. However, the sharp decline in the number of immigrants (from over 50,000 in 2002 to 30,000 in 2008) is more responsible for the negative migration balance than the increase in the number of emigrants between 2006 and 2008. For example, 28,741 Turks moved to Germany in 2008, but 38,889 Turks moved from Germany to Turkey in the same year. This trend continued in the following years. Also in 2010 and 2011, more Turks left Germany than Turks moved to Germany. The trend continued to a lesser extent in 2018.
Between 2007 and 2011, 193,000 Turks living in Germany returned to Turkey permanently. Unemployment and discrimination were the most frequent reasons for return migration. This was the result of a survey conducted by the Turkish-German Foundation for Education and Scientific Research (TAVAK). In the TASD study, the Dortmund Institute futureorg interviewed 250 Turkish academics and academics of Turkish origin, almost three quarters of whom were born in the Federal Republic, about their living situation. According to an interim evaluation, 38 percent said they wanted to emigrate to Turkey. The reason given by 42 per cent was that they lacked a "sense of home" in Germany. Almost four-fifths doubted "that a credible integration policy is being pursued in Germany".
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AlegsaOnline.com Turks in Germany: history, culture, and contemporary life Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/102121