BERLIN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Germany saw a migration surplus of 663,000 in 2023, more than halving the record 1.46 million in 2022, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Thursday.

Although immigration to Germany from other European countries declined overall, people from Europe still contributed the largest group of new arrivals, followed by people from Asia and Africa.

In a longer-term comparison, the surplus in 2023 "remained at a high level," which, excluding the 2022 peak, was only exceeded in 2015 and 1992, Destatis said. The decline was mainly attributed to the significant drop in Ukrainian immigrants, which fell by 75 percent year-on-year.

In addition, Germany is facing a low birth rate and a rising aging population. Around 693,000 children were born last year, the lowest level in 10 years, according to Destatis.

A study published by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development last week projected the number of people of retirement age, 67 and older, is set to rise by 13.6 percent by 2045.

In response, the German government has amended legislation to support the influx of qualified workers from abroad. On Thursday, a modernized citizenship law came into force that allows foreign nationals to naturalize more quickly while keeping their former citizenship. Enditem

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