Birth decline in Germany: alarming statistics 2023!

Birth decline in Germany: alarming statistics 2023!

The birth rate in Germany also shows a worrying tendency in 2023. With 1.35 children per woman, she is 2 % below the value of 2022, when 1.38 children per woman were born, reports ZDF today . A total of 677,117 children were born last year, which also represents a decline of 2 % compared to 2022. These falling numbers raise questions and leave space for discussions about the social framework that influence these developments.

The analysis of the birth rate shows that the decline in the birth rate has slowed down. While there was a decrease of 8 % in 2022, it was only 7 % in 2023. Interestingly, the birth rate in the eastern area of Germany with 1.27 children per woman is lower than in the western federal states, where the rate is 1.38 children per woman.

regional differences

Berlin stands out with the lowest birth rate of 1.21 children per woman. In contrast, there is Lower Saxony, which has the highest birth rate per woman with 1.42 children per woman. A look at Thuringia reveals that the region recorded the strongest decline: Here the birth rate dropped by 7 % to 1.24 children. Baden-Württemberg, on the other hand, books the slightest decline in only 1 % and reaches a rate of 1.39 children.

Another important factor is the division of births after nationality. Women with German citizenship only have an average of 1.23 children, which has been the lowest value since 1996. Women with foreign citizenship, on the other hand, have 1.84 children, but this also means 2 % decline compared to previous years. These figures reflect a trend that has been observed since 2017: the birth frequency among foreign women is continuously falling.

The role of age

An important aspect of birth statistics is the average age of the parents. In 2024, the age of the mothers was 30.4 years at the birth of their first child, and that of the fathers at 33.3 years. This shows that parents tend to get older. In 2015, the average age in mothers was still 29.7 years and for fathers 32.8 years. This increase in old age could affect the birth rate, since older parents may have fewer children.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, which publishes this data, the birth rate (Total Fertility Rate, TFR) refers to the number of children that a woman has on average if the birth conditions of the year under consideration remain constant. This is an important measured value to compare and understand periods and geographical differences where society controls. Right now, in times of demographic change, the question arises how Germany can tackle the challenges of birth development. Information on the birth statistics can also be viewed on the website of Destatis

In Europe, the average birth rate is 1.38 children per woman, and a decade ago it was 1.51 children. While Bulgaria has the highest birth rate in the EU with 1.81 children, Malta and Spain show the lowest numbers with 1.06 and 1.12 children. These different values illustrate the various challenges that the individual countries face and invite you to think about future -proof solutions.