Germany’s birth rate has fallen to its lowest level in decades, the Federal Statistical Office reported on Thursday, although overall population growth continued due to immigration.
The country recorded an average of 1.35 children per woman in 2024—a 2% decline from the 1.38 registered in 2023. A total of 677,117 children were born last year, down by 15,872 compared to the previous year.
Lower Saxony had the highest fertility rate at 1.42, while Berlin had the lowest at 1.21. Among women of German nationality, the fertility rate dropped to 1.23, the lowest level since 1996. However, the decline in birth rates is said to be slowing.
The fertility rate for foreign women was 1.84, also down 2% from 2023. The data shows a downward trend in births among foreign nationals since 2017.
Despite the drop in births, Germany’s population still increased in 2024. Net immigration—estimated at between 400,000 and 440,000 people—was the sole driver of population growth, though it fell sharply from 662,964 in 2023. The decline was largely due to reduced migration from Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, and EU countries.
