Germany’s Population: Birth Rates, Migration, and an Aging Population
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Germany’s Population: The Big Picture
Germany is home to about 83.5 million people. According to final data from the Statistisches Bundesamt, the population stood at 83,577,140 at the end of 2024. Preliminary data for 2025 show a slight decline: by approximately 110,000 people, to about 83.5 million.
The main demographic logic is simple: more people are dying in the country than are being born, the population is aging, and migration has long offset the natural decline. In 2025, according to preliminary estimates, the positive net migration was no longer sufficient to bridge the gap between births and deaths.
This topic is important not only for statistics. Demographics affect the labor market, social concerns in Germany, the pension system, healthcare, housing, schools, and the integration of new residents.
| Indicator | Latest available data |
|---|---|
| Population as of the end of 2024 | 83,577,140 |
| Preliminary estimate as of the end of 2025 | approximately 83.5 million, a decrease of about 110,000 |
| Women / Men as of the end of 2024 | 42,335,439 / 41,241,701 |
| Residents with foreign citizenship as of the end of 2024 | 12,392,275, or 14.8% of the population |
| People with an Einwanderungsgeschichte, that is, an immigration history | number about 21.2 million, or roughly a quarter of the population |
| Births / Deaths in 2024 | 677,117 / 1,007,758 |
| Natural population decline in 2024 | -330,641 |
| Residents aged 60 and older as of the end of 2024 | approximately 25.5 million, or 30.5% of the population |
Why the Population Is No Longer Growing Automatically
Germany has had a negative natural balance for many years: there are more deaths than births. As long as the inflow of migrants was high enough, the total population could grow even with a low birth rate. But this mechanism depends on the scale of the inflow, the situation in the labor market, humanitarian migration, and entry regulations.
In 2024, the natural population decline amounted to 330,641 people. According to preliminary estimates for 2025, the gap between deaths and births grew to approximately 352,000, while the net migration balance fell to approximately 235,000. Consequently, Germany recorded a slight overall population decline for the first time since 2020.
For the reader, this means that when German news reports discuss Fachkräfte, pensions, schools, Kita, Pflege, housing, and integration, these topics often stem from the same demographic reality.
Migration and the Foreign Population
Migration remains a key factor in mitigating demographic decline. As of the end of 2024, 12.4 million residents of Germany held foreign citizenship, or 14.8% of the population. The broader concept of Einwanderungsgeschichte includes not only immigrants but also some of their children born in Germany; there are approximately 21.2 million such residents.
Therefore, the discussion about migrants in Germany is not limited to “newcomers.” A significant portion of people with an immigrant background have long lived in the country, studying, working, raising families, and eventually obtaining German citizenship.
Naturalization has accelerated significantly in recent years. In 2024, approximately 292,000 people received German citizenship, a record high in modern statistics. The largest group among those naturalized were immigrants from Syria. For many families, this is the next step after obtaining a residence permit, integrating into society, and fulfilling the requirements for obtaining German citizenship.
Migration also rejuvenates the age structure. Among people of working age, the proportion of residents without a German passport is significantly higher than among retirees. Hence the constant interest in moving to Germany as a Fachkraft, studying, family reunification, and other entry channels, including family reunification.
Large groups of foreigners in Germany include citizens of Turkey, Ukraine, Syria, Romania, and Poland. In terms of the proportion of residents without German citizenship, city-states and economically strong western regions stand out in particular: Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg.
Humanitarian migration remains a separate part of the picture. According to BAMF data, 168,543 asylum applications were filed in Germany in 2025, including 113,236 initial applications. This is fewer than the previous year; applicants frequently included citizens of Afghanistan, Syria, and Turkey.
Birth Rate
The birth rate in Germany remains below the level required for simple generational replacement. In 2024, 677,117 children were born, and 1,007,758 people died. The total fertility rate was 1.35 children per woman, whereas the rate typically needed for long-term generational replacement is around 2.1.
| 2024 Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Births | 677,117 |
| Birth rate per 1,000 inhabitants | about 8.1 |
| Deaths | 1,007,758 |
| Mortality rate per 1,000 inhabitants | approximately 12.1 |
| Natural decrease | -330,641 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.35 children per woman |
| Average age of mothers at the birth of their first child | about 30.4 years |
Regional differences persist: in the western states, including Berlin, the rate is higher than in the eastern states, excluding Berlin. The average age of parents also remains high, which is why the decision to have a first child is often postponed until parents have stable employment, housing, and a clear family budget.
Family support in Germany is well-developed by European standards: there is Kindergeld, Elterngeld, as well as daycare centers, full-day schools, and regional programs. But benefits alone do not solve the problems of expensive housing, a shortage of spots in daycare centers, a delayed start to a stable career, and the risk of income loss after the birth of a child.
For migrant families, the status of the child is particularly important. In some cases, a child can obtain German citizenship by birth in Germany if the parents meet the requirements regarding residency status and length of residence. This is a subject to regulation, so specific conditions must be verified against current law and official sources.
Population Aging
Germany’s aging is not a short-term trend but a long-term structural process. As of the end of 2024, the average age of the country’s residents was about 44.9 years. About 25.5 million people were over 60, approximately 19 million were over 65, and the 80+ age group numbered about 6.1 million.
The largest postwar generations are gradually transitioning from working age to retirement age. Consequently, the burden on the pension system, long-term care (Pflege), hospitals, and the national health insurance system is increasing.
The age structure of Germany’s population shows a shift toward older age groups.
For every 100 people aged 20–64, there are an increasing number of people over 65. This does not mean that Germany is “dying out,” but it does mean a different ratio between workers, students, families with children, and the elderly. In practical terms, this increases the demand for workers, care services, healthcare, workplace accommodations, and a later exit from the workforce for some people.
Families and Households
Modern Germany is a country of small households. In 2024, there were about 41.2 million private households. About 17.45 million of these were single-person households, meaning the person lived alone. Two-person households also made up a significant portion.
The family as a way of life is not disappearing, but it is becoming more diverse. People are marrying later, having children later, and more often living alone or in small households. In 2024, 349,216 marriages were registered—a low figure by postwar standards. There were about 129,000 divorces, and the average duration of marriage before divorce was approximately 14.7 years.
Therefore, issues related to marriage, children, work, and divorce in Germany have not only legal but also demographic significance. They are linked to housing, tax brackets, employment, childcare, and the ability to balance family life with a career.
Germans Are Leaving, Too
Germany’s positive net migration does not mean that no one is leaving the country. Among German citizens, the balance has been negative for many years. In 2024, 189,107 German citizens arrived in Germany, while 269,986 left. The net balance was -80,879 people.
Common destinations for German citizens moving abroad include Switzerland, Austria, and the United States. When leaving permanently, it is important to complete the deregistration process in Germany () and deregister from the German population register () in a timely manner, terminate or transfer contracts, and notify relevant organizations of your new address.
| Year | Net migration of German citizens |
|---|---|
| 2024 | -80 879 |
| 2023 | -73 679 |
| 2022 | -83 414 |
| 2021 | -64 179 |
| 2020 | -28 356 |
Population by Federal Subject
Germany’s population is distributed very unevenly. The most populous state is North Rhine-Westphalia, followed by Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. On average, the eastern states (excluding Berlin) are aging and shrinking more rapidly than the western regions, while the city-states remain more demographically dynamic.
When choosing a region to live in, it’s not just population size and migration rates that matter, but also the housing market, transportation, universities, jobs, salaries in Germany, and the quality of the urban environment. For practical purposes, it’s helpful to compare specific cities rather than just federal states: where is the best place to live in Germany.
| State | Population as of the end of 2024 | Percentage of residents without German citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| North Rhine-Westphalia | 18,034,454 | 15.8% |
| Bavaria | 13,248,928 | 15.6% |
| Baden-Württemberg | 11,245,898 | 18.2% |
| Lower Saxony | 8,004,489 | 11.6% |
| Hesse | 6,280,793 | 18.4% |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | 4,129,569 | 13.9% |
| Saxony | 4,042,422 | 8.1% |
| Berlin | 3,685,265 | 22.5% |
| Schleswig-Holstein | 2,959,517 | 10.3% |
| Brandenburg | 2,556,747 | 7.2% |
| Saxony-Anhalt | 2,135,597 | 7.6% |
| Thuringia | 2,100,277 | 8.3% |
| Hamburg | 1,862,565 | 19.3% |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 1,573,597 | 6.3% |
| Saar | 1,012,141 | 15.1% |
| Bremen | 704,881 | 22.8% |
Preliminary regional data for 2025 show that growth was concentrated mainly in the city-states—Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen. The most significant decline was observed in the eastern states, particularly in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt.
What This Means for Life in Germany
Demographic changes do not happen overnight, but they are gradually altering everyday life:
- It is more difficult for employers to fill job openings without migration and retraining;
- The pension and healthcare systems are under greater strain;
- Schools and preschools require different approaches in regions with growing and shrinking populations;
- Cities must simultaneously address issues of integration, housing, and care for the elderly;
- For families, it’s not just financial assistance that matters, but also accessible infrastructure close to home.
Therefore, it is better to view Germany’s population not as a single figure, but as a combination of several processes: low birth rates, high life expectancy, the aging of the baby boomer generations, migration, and significant regional differences.
