Almost two years ago, in May 2011, Germany conducted a sample census (Zensus). Unlike the previous census in 1987, which was a "complete" count, enumerators did not question everyone. On average, only every tenth resident answered their questions nationwide, and in some federal states only 5% of the population. The addresses for enumerator visits were selected randomly. Then the survey data were correlated with registration reports, and then using special mathematical models, the final results were obtained, which, according to experts, very accurately reflect the real demographic picture of today's Germany.
Before the official census figures, the country's population count was based on aggregate data from East and West Germany collected long ago. For example, the census in the GDR was in 1981. The combined result of those studies gave a figure of 81.7 million people for today. However, the results of Zensus-2011 drastically changed the view of the country's demographics. Germany's population turned out to be 1.5 million less than previously thought, and now stands at 80 million 300 thousand. Moreover, the majority of these "lost" 1.5 million are foreigners.
According to the census, 92.3% of the country's residents have German citizenship. The number of foreign citizens living in Germany is 6.2 million. Among them, the largest group is from Turkey – 17.3%, followed by immigrants from Poland (13.1%), Russia (8.7%), Kazakhstan (8.2%), and Italy (5.3%). According to the latest census, there are now 1.1 million fewer foreigners living in the country than previously thought. As the Federal Statistical Office states, the significant discrepancy in statistical data is largely explained by the fact that not all foreigners leaving Germany officially register their departure. Meanwhile, every fifth resident of Germany (15 million, or 19%) has a migration background. This means that they themselves or at least one of their parents arrived in the territory now comprising Germany after 1955. Among the 16 federal states, the highest proportion of residents with foreign roots is in Hamburg, where they make up 27.5% of the population. The fewest people in this category – about 5% – live in the new federal states.
Significant discrepancies between expected and actual figures were found in large cities. For example, in Berlin alone there are 180,000 fewer residents than previously thought, "only" 3.292 million. This means that the German capital must return millions of "illegally" received subsidies to the state budget, which are calculated based on the population of each federal state. Next year, the state of Berlin will receive 515 million euros less from the federal government. Currently, only four cities in Germany have a population of more than one million: Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne.
Furthermore, the census showed that 69% of Germans consider themselves Christians, 10.5% atheists, and only about two percent of Germany's residents called themselves Muslims. However, according to statisticians, people practicing Islam often refused to disclose their religion during the census. The most atheists live in the eastern regions of Germany, where they account for about 33%. The final statistics also provide data on same-sex unions. In Germany, there are 34,000 registered same-sex civil partnerships. These families are raising 5,700 children.
The current census in Germany was initiated by the European Commission. The next count of Germany's residents will take place no earlier than 2021.
Ksenia Schmidt,
«Russkaya Germaniya».