What is statelessness?
Around 15 million people worldwide are stateless. Without nationality, fundamental rights are often missing. Many stateless people cannot go to school, work, vote, or receive medical care.
On paper, they are invisible to states.
People worldwide are stateless. Since less than half of the world's countries report data on statelessness, only 4.4 million of them appear in official statistics.
People in Germany are officially stateless. Since many people are recorded in administrative categories such as „not specified“ or „unclear nationality,“ the actual number is significantly higher.
Children are officially stateless in Germany. Most of them were born here.
Statelessness in Germany
Around 118,400 stateless people live in Germany. In 2024, their number decreased slightly for the first time. Only a quarter of them are considered „recognized stateless“ and are marked with XXA. Three quarters are recorded as XXX, for „unclear nationality / not specified.“.
One letter makes a big difference. Only those recognized as „recognized stateless“ (XXA) for six years can apply for naturalization. Those listed as XXX cannot.
Nevertheless, in Germany and many other countries, there is no procedure to clarify unexplained citizenships and to change an "X" to an "A".
Stateless Children in Germany
Nearly 43,800 stateless individuals in Germany are children, most of whom are stateless with unknown nationality (XXX). Furthermore, most of them were born in Germany. This is because even if one parent is stateless with unknown nationality, the child can inherit this status. In doing so, Germany violates Article 7 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which grants every child the right to a nationality.
Statelessness globally
Around 15 million people worldwide are stateless. None of them chose this.
Your states have dissolved, as in the case of the Soviet Union or Yugoslavia. You are discriminated against, like the Rohingya in Myanmar or Roma and Sinti in many countries. Your birth was not registered, for example, in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. Or your mothers were not allowed to pass on their citizenship to you, as in Saudi Arabia.
All these reasons and many more lead to statelessness.
International Agreements
As early as 1948, human rights included the right citizenship detained. In 1954, stateless persons were recognized internationally for the first time and their protection defined. 1961 followed rules to prevent statelessness. Although many states have ratified these agreements, they have not adequately implemented them. Therefore, people worldwide are still not sufficiently protected from statelessness.
Missing ascertainment procedure
The term „stateless“ includes people who are not recognized as nationals by any country in the world. Consequently, they do not receive national protection from any country. Only a minority of them are officially recognized as stateless. The majority live in a legal limbo because unrecognized stateless persons cannot apply for citizenship and can hardly change their status. Unlike in France, Portugal, Spain, or Great Britain, Germany does not have a uniform procedure to attain the status of recognized statelessness from an unclear nationality.
The official and legal recognition of stateless persons is a prerequisite for stateless persons to fully exercise their rights and to leave statelessness. Therefore, at Statefree, we are working on developing a prototype for a digital Statelessness Determination Procedure for Germany.
Why this concerns everyone
Belonging strengthens – not just those affected
Stateless people without recognized status are held back. They often cannot study or pursue further education. Their degrees are not recognized, and they are not allowed to work fully. This forces stateless people into unemployment. This hinders not only them but society as a whole. Empowering stateless individuals means empowering all of us.
Statelessness can happen to anyone – even you
Citizenship in a passport is a given for most of us. But we can all lose it due to bureaucratic errors, legal loopholes, or political changes. No one should have to fear that. Clear rules and systems protect today's stateless individuals – and prevent tomorrow's statelessness. Empowering stateless people means creating justice.
Stateless people are not invisible – they are among us
Many stateless people have lived here for years, and a large portion of them were even born here. They are your neighbors, friends, and colleagues. They speak your language, live in your neighborhood, and send their children to the same daycare. They are part of our society – just without the rights you take for granted. Empowering stateless individuals means strengthening cohesion.
Belonging binds – in both directions
Those who are excluded are kept small. But those who receive support from the community give back. Only when stateless people are recognized can they contribute – in sports clubs, at the volunteer fire department, in choirs, or in companies. Strengthening stateless people means more participation, more volunteer work, more diversity, more future.
Equal opportunities – for every child
Many stateless children grow up with limited opportunities. A lack of nationality can make it difficult to access education, training, and social participation. Equal opportunity means that every child receives the same chances, regardless of their nationality.