Inhabitants in MV continues to decrease: births at a record low!

Inhabitants in MV continues to decrease: births at a record low!

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Deutschland - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania faces a new challenge, because the population has dropped again. On December 31, 2024, only 1,573,897 people lived in the state, which corresponds to a decline of 4,444 inhabitants or 0.3 percent compared to the previous year. The causes of this are versatile, but a main factor is the decline in births, while the number of deaths has remained almost stable. In 2024, only 9,157 children born were registered, 514 less than in the previous year and the lowest figures since 1994. The deaths are not behind this trend: 23,927 people died in the same year, 78 less than 2023. This development increases the difference between births and deaths on alarming 14,770, which also increases the situation. According to we are Müritzer, the rural area in particular shows a worrying down trend.

What effect does that have on immigration? In 2024, 47,514 people moved to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while 36,809 people left the state. This results in a migration gain of 10,705 people - a decline of 5,385 people or 33.5 percent compared to the previous year. While cities such as Rostock and Schwerin are able to record slight growth, the rural population continues to fall by the wayside. The demographic changes are a recurring topic that is increasingly concerned with politics, especially with regard to the allocation of public funds that depends directly on the number of inhabitants.

statistics and future prospects

The current numbers are not only a snapshot, they also take a look into the future. The population development in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania follows a trend that can be observed in many industrialized nations. Explanations for this are above all the decline in births in connection with increasing life expectancy. According to destatis, the influx from abroad will only slow the aging and shrinking of the population, but cannot stop.

The census of May 15, 2022, which a population of only 1,571,239 residents, was about 56,000 below expectations. This deviation led to complaints from municipalities in many places that considered the numbers too low. The background includes, among other things, unsuccessful cancellations for emigration and a lack of re -registrations by students as well as the rededication of apartments into holiday apartments. The pressure caused by these demographic trends is a great challenge for society as a whole.

FAZIT

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is on a crossroads, shaped by a decline in the population and the associated challenges. The development of the age structure, migration and integration remain central issues on the political agenda. It remains to be seen how effectively the measures to support the population are implemented in rural areas.