Birth rate in Germany reaches historic low!

Birth rate in Germany reaches historic low!

The birth rate in Germany continues to decline. With only 1.35 children per woman, it has reached a new low. If you compare that with the previous year, there is even a decrease of two percent, because in 2023 the rate was 1.38 children. A total of 677,117 children were born last year, a decrease of 15,872 newborns compared to 2023. That reports it World.

The differences between the federal states are striking. Lower Saxony leads with a birth rate of 1.42 children per woman, while Berlin is at the other end of the scale with a meager 1.21 children per woman. The birth rate for women with German citizenship is also worrying, because at 1.23 children per woman it is only just shy of the lowest value in 30 years - in 1996 the value was 1.22 children. Women with foreign nationality, on the other hand, have it somewhat better and have 1.84 children, although here too there is a decrease of two percent compared to the previous year.

Lows and trends

A detailed analysis shows that the birth rate among women with foreign nationality has been continuously decreasing since 2017. These developments raise questions, especially when the annual review by the statistical offices has shown that birth rates have fallen in all federal states. The biggest drops were found in Thuringia, where the birth rate fell from 1.33 to 1.24 children per woman, a drop of a whopping 7 percent. Baden-Württemberg recorded the smallest decline at just 1 percent, but here too the birth rate fell from 1.41 to 1.39 children. The average birth rate in the eastern federal states is 1.27 children per woman, while the western federal states have an average of 1.38 children. Loud Destatis As in many other European countries, development remains an issue that will continue to concern us.

But what effects do these low birth rates have on society as a whole? The 1975 class, for example, had an average of 1.58 children. In addition, the average age of mothers at birth is increasing: in 2024 it was 31.8 years old, while fathers were on average 34.7 years old. This could also lead to family planning and births having to be reconsidered.

A look at Europe

If you compare the numbers in Germany with those in the rest of the EU, you can see that the European average in 2023 was 1.38 children per woman, which also represents a decline since 2013 (then 1.51 children per woman). Across the EU, Bulgaria is the exception with a birth rate of 1.81 children, while Malta with 1.06 and Spain with 1.12 children are at the bottom of the scale. The data clearly shows that Germany is not alone in this trend.

In summary, it can be said that the falling birth rates in Germany are not just a temporary phenomenon, but point to deeper social and economic challenges. It only remains to be seen how those responsible will react to this. In the coming years, we face the challenge of improving the framework conditions so that more families can take the step into a new life and to close the demographic gaps.