Richard Connor, Deutsche Welle

Germany`s fertility rate declined further in 2024, falling to 1.35 children per woman — the lowest rate in almost two decades.

Among women with German citizenship, the level was the lowest it has been in decades, according to data from the country`s Federal Statistical Office.

Germany`s birth rate has remained below the replacement level of 2.1 for decades, raising concerns about long-term demographic shifts.

How big is the drop in birth rate?
In total, 677,117 children were born in Germany in 2024, a decrease of 15,872 from the year before. 

The total represents a 2% drop from 1.38 in 2023, though the pace of decline has slowed compared to previous years — 2022 and 2023 saw steeper decreases of 8% and 7%, respectively.

The 1.35 figure is the lowest since 2006, when the fertility rate fell to 1.33.

For women with German citizenship, it dropped to 1.23, the lowest since the 1996 rate of 1.22.

Among foreign women living in Germany, the rate was higher at 1.84 but also declined by 2%, continuing a downward trend that began in 2017.

How does the picture look across Germany?
Among German states, Lower Saxony had the highest fertility rate at 1.42, while Berlin recorded the lowest at 1.21. Western Germany averaged 1.38, compared to 1.27 in the east.

Thuringia in the east saw the sharpest decline, with its rate falling 7% to 1.24, while the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg experienced the smallest drop — just 1%, landing at 1.39.

At what age are Germans having children?
Women born in 1975, who statistically reached the end of their reproductive years in 2024, had an average of 1.58 children — an increase from the record low of 1.49 among women born in 1968. This reflects a broader shift toward later-life childbirth among women born in the 1970s.

In 2024, the average age of mothers at childbirth was 31.8 years, and for fathers, 34.7 — a trend that has remained stable since 2021. For first-time parents, the average age was 30.4 for mothers and 33.3 for fathers, maintaining a 2.9-year gap. Since 1991, the average parental age has increased by nearly four years.

How does Germany compare with rest of EU?
EU-wide fertility data for 2024 is not yet available, but Eurostat reports that the EU average in 2023 was 1.38 — matching Germany`s rate that year. Bulgaria led with 1.81 children per woman, while Malta (1.06) and Spain (1.12) recorded the lowest rates.

The declining birthrate, well below the replacement level, raises concerns about economic sustainability, and pressure on pension and healthcare systems.