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The Age Distribution of Refugees from the Soviet Occupation Zone and the GDR (1949-1962)

The GDR leadership was particularly troubled by the number of young and working-age people who fled the republic, since their departure threatened the GDR economy and the future of the entire country.

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Refugees* from the GDR to the Federal Republic of Germany and West Berlin, 1949-1962


Year Refugees in thousands Age distribution in percent
under 14 14-17 18-24 25-44 45-64 65 and older
1949 129 . . . . . .
1950 198 . . . . . .
1951 166 . . . . . .
1952 182 17.8 11.1 23.7 29.3 16.7 1.4
1953 331 22.7 11.8 14.2 30 18.8 2.5
1954 184 21 12.9 15.2 29.4 17.2 4.3
1955 253 17.4 9.6 25.5 27 16.5 4
1956 279 17.5 9.4 22.1 27.4 18.9 4.7
1957 262 16.5 9.2 26.5 26.2 16.7 4.9
1958 204 17.3 8.1 22.7 25.2 20.5 6.2
1959 144 15.4 7.1 25.8 21.7 20.6 9.4
1960 199 17.4 5.7 25.7 23.4 20.7 7.1
1961 207 17.3 5.3 26.6 23.9 19.6 7.3
1962 21 8.7 4.6 25.4 21.9 13.6 25.8

* Refugees who requested recognition or provisional accommodations six months – at the latest – after their arrival in West Germany or West Berlin.



Source: Ralf Rytlewski and Manfred Opp de Hipt, eds., Die Deutsche Demokratische Republik in Zahlen. 1945/1949-1980 [The German Democratic Republic in Numbers. 1945/1949-1980]. Munich: Beck, 1987 (Social History Workbook, vol. 5.) p. 28; reprinted in Merith Niehuss and Ulrike Linder, eds., Besatzungszeit, Bundesrepublik und DDR, 1945-1969 [Occupation Period, Federal Republic, and German Democratic Republic, 1945-1969]. Deutsche Geschichte in Quellen und Darstellung, edited by Rainer A. Müller, vol. 10. Stuttgart: P. Reclam, 1998, p. 403.

Translation: Thomas Dunlap

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