German net migration rose to the highest level in 20 years in 2013, fuelled largely by immigrants from euro zone debt-crisis states Italy and Spain as well as a continued influx of Poles, data from the Statistics Office showed today.

Net migration - the balance between overall immigration and emigration - rose to an increase of 437,000 people, the highest level in 20 years. Immigration from Italy rose by some 52 per cent - up 32,000 - on the year.

A total of 19 per cent, or 22,000 more people, moved to Europe's largest economy from Spain. But migration from Greece, where the euro zone debt crisis started, fell by 9 per cent.

Most immigrants in 2013 came from Poland, with net migration of 72,000 people. With its population shrinking and ageing, German industry has actively called for immigration to help fill the gaps.

By 2050, a third of Germany’s population will be above the age of 65, according to government data, and the population is expected to shrink by a quarter. In the year before Bulgarians and Romanians got full access to the European job market, migration from those two countries showed differing trends.

Immigration from the former fell by 13 per cent but was up 10 per cent from the latter.