Press release No. 018a of 15 January 2019

WIESBADEN – Based on selected socio-economic indicators, the Brexit Monitor of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) shows the social and economic development in the United Kingdom since the Brexit referendum. It reveals that the number of Britons who obtained the German citizenship rose markedly from 2,865 in 2016 to7,493 people in 2017 (+162%). There was a similar rise in the number of Germans naturalised in the United Kingdom. Their number was up from 994 in 2016 to 2,636 in 2017 (+165%). A connection with the Brexit decision can be assumed in both cases as an exit from the EU is expected to terminate the freedom of movement.