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Abstract

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.

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

Source

Refugees[1] 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

30.0

18.8

2.5

1954

184

21.0

12.9

15.2

29.4

17.2

4.3

1955

253

17.4

9.6

25.5

27.0

16.5

4.0

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

Notes

[1] 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. Munich: Beck, 1987 (Social History Workbook, vol. 5.) p. 28; reprinted in Merith Niehuss and Ulrike Linder, eds., Besatzungszeit, Bundesrepublik und DDR, 1945–1969. Deutsche Geschichte in Quellen und Darstellung, edited by Rainer A. Müller, vol. 10. Stuttgart: P. Reclam, 1998, p. 403.

Translation: Thomas Dunlap