About 890,000 refugees came to Germany last year, rather than the previously calculated 1.1 million, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere announced Friday.

The 890,000 asylum seekers is "significantly lower" than the calculated number, but "still very high," said de Maiziere.

The minister has repeatedly stressed in recent months, that the previous number is too high for multiple registrations, or because some refugees may have traveled further to another country or back home.

Upon their arrival in Germany, asylum seekers are registered, but the German government stressed last year that the system did not rule out the "wrong or double records."

About 210,000 asylum seekers came to the country this year so far, according to de Maiziere. 

Source : XINHUA