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________________POPULATION CHANGES 1947
SUMM(ARY
1. During 1947, the population of the U.S. Zone increased 2.0
percent or 350,000,---from 17.38 million to 17,73 million.
a.  This increase was relatively lowas compared with 1946,
since the transfer of millions of expellees into the U.S. Zone was halted
at the beginning of 1947, but relatively high as compared to pre-war in-
crease rates which ranged from 0.5 - 1.0 percent per annum.
b. In contrast to the situation in pre-war years when popu-
lation increase was almost exclusively the result of an excess of births
over deaths, two-thirds of the population increase in 1947 was the result
of net migration.
2. Although completely reliable migration statistics are not
available, immigration into the U.S. Zone during 1947 is estimated at
442,200. Excluding returned PWs, interzonal immigration formed by far the
largest part of the total.
a. Immigrants included 216,000 returned PWs, mostly between
the ages of 20 and 40; 70,600 refugees from other zones and Berlin arriving
legally; and an estimated 128,400 others whose zone of origin is impossible
to determine.
b. The number of those who crossed the border illegally and
are now living in the U.S. Zone without ration cards is unknown and these
people are not included in the figures of this study.
c. The most important factors contributing to interzonal mi-
gration into the U.S. Zone are believed to be the natural attempt of
families to reunite and the existing differences in the political and eco-
nomic conditions between the Soviet Zone and Berlin and the Western Zones.
3. Emigration out of the U.S. Zone during 1947 was estimated at
203,200. Interzonal emigration accounted for 68,000, (including 27,400 re-
leased prisoners of war), and DPs repatriated and resettled in foreign
countries for 125,200. An additional 10,000, conservatively estimated, left
the U.S. Zone as uncontrolled emigration.
a. In 1947, 58,634 DPs were repatriated and 66,547 were re-
settled. Among those repatriated, Poles were the most numerous.
b. Practical work on the resettlement program, restricted to
UNDPs, is still in the initial stage. The only noteworthy program realiste
in 1947 was the resettlement of 27,550 DPs in Belgium. In addition, 13,128
DPs emigrated to the United States.
c. The pressure of overpopulation and the psychological effects
of the political situation in Germany have created a strong interest in emi-
gration among the German population.
CIVIL ADMINISTRATION DIVISION