'More than 1m refugees' to have arrived in Germany by end of 2015

Migrants arriving by train at the main railway station in Munich. Credit: Reuters

More than a million refugees are expected to have arrived in Germany by the end of the year, according to reports, while official forecasts suggest 800,000 refugees will have entered the country by the end of this year.

However, Chancellor Angela Merkel's deputy Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel was quoted as saying the figure would top a million.

Top five countries of origin for refugees arriving in Germany in September:

  • Syria - 85,455

  • Iraq - 19,192

  • Afghanistan - 18,387

  • Albania - 5,923

  • Pakistan - 5,092

Mr Gabriel told a Social Democratic party event in Mainz: "Germany will receive more than a million refugees this year," according to Reuters.

In September alone, nearly 164,000 refugees arrived in the country and it's estimated around 10,000 refugees are seeking to enter daily, most originating from Syria.

According to statistics from the UN Refugee Agency, Germany received 38% of total asylum applications in the EU between April and June this year.

What happens to them once they arrive?

  • Refugees and migrants are given a medical check when they arrive at stations in Germany.

  • They are fed, watered and given fresh clothing.

  • Then they are transferred to a reception centre where they will spend up to six weeks before being transferred to further accommodation.

  • The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) distributes asylum seekers across Germany's 16 federal states, calculated according to their tax revenue and their population.

  • Those applying for asylum have their fingerprints and a photograph taken and granted temporary permission to stay.

  • They will be invited to an interview to decide their case.

  • Financial support varies from state to state but generally includes non-cash benefits covering food and accommodation costs, plus limited spending money.

  • Top six EU nations for asylum applications: April-June 2015 (total: 213,200)

  • Germany (80,900 / 38%)

  • Hungary (32,700 / 15%)

  • Austria (17,400 / 8%)

  • Italy (14,900 / 7%)

  • France (14,700 / 7%)

  • Sweden (14,300 / 7%)

  • The UK saw 7,470 applications during the same period (around 4% of total)

- UN Refugee Agency