Not Mallorca: These Countries Germans Are Choosing as a New Home

No room for surprises: Switzerland still ahead

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I recently overheard a heated discussion at a café on Passeig Mallorca: \"Why not stay here?\" — \"Far too touristy.\" Such voices are heard more often. Yet the sober answer of the statistics remains: Switzerland is and remains the most popular destination for emigrants from Germany. At the start of 2024 there were around 323,600 people with German citizenship living there.

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Why Switzerland?

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You often hear about higher salaries, shorter commutes, and a certain order. Many tell me about friends who wanted to get stuck in a traffic jam on Mondays on the A1 but instead found a new routine in Zurich or Basel. Even if the move is expensive — for many it pays off quickly.

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In second place: Austria

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Austria is also pulling strongly: About 232,700 Germans lived there at the beginning of 2024. Within a decade this is an increase of over 40%. Anyone who enjoys skiing in the Alps, good infrastructure, and proximity to German language and culture quickly ends up on the list.

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Spain — including Mallorca — in third place

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Spain overall ranks third. Just under 128,000 Germans had their residence there at the beginning of 2024. Mallorca does not appear separately in statistics, but those thinking of palm trees, sea, and a slower pace usually count the islands as well. Since 2022 the number of Germans in Spain has been rising again — after years of decline.

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Interesting: The motivations are diverse. Young people seek good starting conditions and sun, families look at education and safety, retirees at climate and health. At a market stall in Palma last week, a retiree told me with a laugh: \"I didn’t want to shovel snow anymore — and that is honest.\"

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What this means for Mallorca

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Mallorca remains a dream destination, but as a formal emigration target the island competes with entire countries. For many it remains a holiday paradise, for others a long-term home. In any case the numbers show: the search for quality of life leads Germans in very different directions.

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If you’re thinking about packing your suitcase, you should not only count sun, beach and sangria. Bureaucracy, the healthcare system, taxes and language play a role — often more than postcard idyll. And yes: a good tip from a neighbor can be more helpful than any statistic.

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