In 2024, 677,117 children were born in Germany — 15,872 fewer, or a 2 percent decline compared with the previous year. According to the federal statistical office, the fertility rate in Germany stood at 1.35 per woman.
Compared with the previous year, the fertility rate fell across all regions of Germany in 2024. The largest decline was recorded in Thuringia. The smallest decline, of 1 percent, occurred in Baden-Württemberg, where the rate dropped from 1.41 to 1.39 children per woman.
Women with German citizenship have a statistical average of 1.23 children per woman. Such a low fertility rate was last recorded nearly 30 years ago, in 1996 (1.22 children per woman). Among women with foreign citizenship, the fertility rate in 2024 stood at 1.84 children per woman, which also represents a decline compared with the previous year. Since 2017, fertility among foreign women has been declining almost continuously.
Germany's total population is increasing slightly year on year, mainly due to immigration. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the population grew by approximately 121,000 (+0.1 percent) in 2024 to just under 83.6 million. This growth is entirely attributable to the positive migration balance (+420,000), since the natural population balance is negative: approximately 330,000 more people died than were born. In 2025, a further modest increase to approximately 83.97 million is expected, with immigration again tipping the scales.
In the longer term, however, projections for Germany's population show a mixed picture. The population is forecast to grow to approximately 85.5 million by 2045, driven by immigration, although regional differences will be significant. Urban areas will gain residents, while rural regions — especially in eastern Germany — will continue to shrink.
