German Afghans are German citizens with Afghan ancestry and non-citizen residents born in, or with ancestors from, Afghanistan. It is the largest Afghan community in Europe and part of the worldwide Afghan diaspora, of which it is one of the largest. In 2022, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany estimated the number of people of Afghan descent residing in Germany at 425,000 the third largest from outside the EU, and the largest group from Asia excluding the Middle East and Caucusus. In particular, there are over 50,000 Afghans in Hamburg alone, comprising over 7% of the city's population. Offenbach am Main and Hamburg had the highest shares of Afghan migrants among all German districts in 2011. There were 51,000 people of Afghan decent living in Hamburg in 2023.
Image: Burhan Qurbani 32992878546 (cropped)
Image: Zallascht Sadat Miss Afghanistan e
An Afghan restaurant in Hamburg
German Afghan model Zohre Esmaeli in traditional Afghan clothing during a charity event
Afghan diaspora refers to the Afghan people that reside and work outside of Afghanistan. They include natives and citizens of Afghanistan who have immigrated to other countries. The majority of the diaspora has been formed by Afghan refugees since the start of the Soviet–Afghan War in 1979; the largest numbers temporarily reside in Iran. As stateless refugees or asylum seekers, they are protected by the well-established non-refoulement principle and the U.N. Convention Against Torture. The ones having at least one American parent are further protected by United States laws.
The April 1978 Saur Revolution led to the 1980s Soviet–Afghan War. These events compelled millions of Afghans to migrate to neighboring Pakistan and Iran on a temporary basis, i.e., until threats of torture, persecution and mistreatment disappear in Afghanistan.
Islamabad, Pakistan
Moscow, Russia
Hamburg, Germany
