Turks in Germany, also referred to as German Turks and Turkish Germans, are ethnic Turkish people living in Germany. These terms are also used to refer to German-born individuals who are of full or partial Turkish ancestry. The majority of Turks arrived or originate from Turkey, although some ethnic Turkish communities in Germany trace their ancestry to other parts of southeastern Europe or the Levant. At present, ethnic Turkish people form the largest ethnic minority in Germany. They also form the largest Turkish population in the Turkish diaspora.
Once the Ottoman army retreated from their unsuccessful campaign at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, at least 500 Turkish prisoners were forcibly settled in Germany. Captured several years later, in 1685, Ludwig Maximilian Mehmet von Königstreu [de] (pictured) is one of the most notable Beutetürken ("booty Turks") who later entered the court of the Elector of Hanover and converted to Christianity.
Fatima Kariman was a Turkish captive during the Battle of Buda (1686). She was captured by General Schöning and later sent to Saxony where she became the mistress of Augustus II the Strong.
Born to a Turkish father and a German mother, Karl Boy-Ed was the naval attaché to the German embassy in Washington during World War I.
Of Turkish origin through his mother Fatima, Frederick Augustus Rutowsky became the commander of the Saxon army during the Siege of Pirna.
The demography of Germany is monitored by the Statistisches Bundesamt. According to the most recent data, Germany's population is 84,607,016 making it the most populous country in the European Union and the nineteenth-most populous country in the world. The total fertility rate was rated at 1.58 in 2021, significantly below the replacement rate of 2.1. For a long time Germany had one of the world's lowest fertility rates of around 1.3 to 1.4, however there has been a small increase in recent years. Due to the low birth rate Germany has recorded more deaths than births every year since 1972, which means 2021 was the 50th consecutive year the German population would have decreased without immigration. However, due to immigration the population has actually increased during the last half-century. In 2019 the number of people with a foreign background was 26%; this category includes foreigners, naturalized citizens, ethnic German repatriates from Eastern Europe and the children of all of the above.
Population between 1800 and 2000
Three population pyramids of Germany: in 1889, 1989 and 2000
Simone Hauswald has a migration background due to one side of her parents being foreign-born.
Mesut Özil is classified as having a migrant background because both of his parents were born in Turkey.
