Germany has deported more than 1,300 Gambian nationals over the past eight years, with removals accelerating sharply since 2022 as Berlin tightens enforcement of immigration decisions.
New data presented by migration researcher Dr Judith Altrogge of the Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS) shows that 1,369 Gambians were deported from Germany between 2018 and 2025. More than three quarters of those removals took place in the last three years alone.
The findings were unveiled at the Migration Evidence Forum organised by the Centre for Research and Policy Development (CPRD) and GK Partners.
According to the report, Germany operated 41 charter flights to The Gambia between 2018 and 2025, returning 578 people. The remaining deportees were sent back on commercial flights, highlighting the scale of Germany’s efforts to enforce return orders.
Despite the rise in deportations, the Gambian population in Germany has remained largely unchanged. Around 16,625 Gambians were living in the country in 2025, a figure that has stayed relatively stable after a rapid increase during Europe’s migration surge between 2012 and 2016.
The report suggests that new arrivals, family reunification and legal migration routes have offset the impact of deportations. National visas issued to Gambians by the German Embassy in Dakar nearly doubled from 183 in 2018 to 327 in 2024, with family reunification accounting for the largest share.
Legal status remains a key challenge. Of the 16,625 Gambians in Germany, 10,280 held valid residence permits in 2025, while 6,345 did not. Many of those without permits were living under Germany’s “Duldung” system, a temporary protection that postpones deportation but does not provide permanent residency rights.
The number of Gambians under this status peaked in 2021 before falling as some secured residence permits through employment schemes and immigration reforms, while others were deported.
The study also challenges the widespread belief that deportees are primarily criminals. Migration experts stressed that deportation is usually an administrative measure linked to immigration status rather than a criminal sanction.
At the same time, Gambians are becoming increasingly integrated into Germany’s economy. Official employment figures show that 9,513 Gambians were working in Germany in 2025, up significantly from just 32 per cent of the community in 2012 to 57 per cent today. Manufacturing remains the largest employer, followed by construction, retail, hospitality, transport and social care.
