In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, Germany was split into four zones, each administered by France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union respectively. In 1949, the Soviet-controlled zone formed the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), while the rest became the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). In this time, Berlin was also split into four zones, and the three non-Soviet zones formed West Berlin, which was a part of West Germany (although the West's administrative capital was moved to Bonn).
One population grows, while the other declines
Between 1949 and 1961, an estimated 2.7 million people migrated from East to West Germany. East Germany had a communist government with a socialist economy and was a satellite state of the Soviet Union, whereas West Germany was a liberal democracy with a capitalist economy, and western autonomy increased over time. Because of this difference, West Germany was a much freer society with more economic opportunities. During the German partition, the population of the west grew, from 51 million in 1950 to 62.7 million in 1989, whereas the population of East Germany declined from 18.4 million to just 16.4 million during this time.
Little change after reunification
In 1989, after four decades of separation, the process of German reunification began. The legal and physical barriers that had split the country were removed, and Germans could freely travel within the entire country. Despite this development, population growth patterns did not change. The population of the 'new states' (East Germany) continued to decline, whereas the population of the west grew, particularly in the 1990s, the first decade after reunification. The reasons for this continued imbalance between German population in the east and west, is mostly due to a low birth rate and internal migration within Germany. Despite the fact that levels of income and unemployment in the new states have gotten closer to those reported for the west (a major obstacle after reunification), life and opportunities in the west continue to attract young Germans from rural areas in the east with detrimental effect on the economy and demography of the new states.
Population in the former territories of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic from 1950 to 2016
Characteristic
East Germany
West Germany
2016
16,156
66,365
2015
16,118
66,057
2014
15,974
65,223
2013
15,919
64,848
2012
15,905
64,619
2011
15,899
64,429
2010
16,326
65,426
2009
16,380
65,422
2008
16,461
65,541
2007
16,554
65,664
2006
16,648
65,667
2005
16,740
65,698
2004
16,821
65,680
2003
16,913
65,619
2002
17,009
65,527
2001*
17,118
65,323
2000
15,120
67,140
1999
15,217
66,946
1998
15,290
66,747
1997
15,369
66,688
1996
15,429
66,583
1995
15,476
66,342
1994
15,531
66,007
1993
15,598
65,740
1992
15,685
65,289
1991
15,790
64,485
1990
16,028
63,726
1989
16,434
62,679
1988
16,675
61,715
1987
16,661
61,238
1986
16,640
61,140
1985
16,640
61,020
1984
16,660
61,049
1983
16,701
61,307
1982
16,702
61,546
1981
16,706
61,713
1980
16,740
61,658
1979
16,740
61,439
1978
16,751
61,322
1977
16,758
61,353
1976
16,767
61,442
1975
16,820
61,645
1974
16,891
61,991
1973
16,951
62,101
1972
17,011
61,809
1971
17,054
61,503
1970
17,068
61,001
1969
17,075
61,195
1968
17,087
60,463
1967
17,090
59,948
1966
17,071
59,793
1965
17,040
59,297
1964
17,004
58,587
1963
17,181
57,865
1962
17,136
57,247
1961
17,079
56,589
1960
17,188
55,958
1959
17,286
55,257
1958
17,312
54,719
1957
17,411
54,064
1956
17,604
53,340
1955
17,832
53,518
1954
18,002
52,943
1953
18,112
52,454
1952
18,300
51,864
1951
18,350
51,435
1950
18,388
50,958
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Statistisches Bundesamt. (June 1, 2017). Population in the former territories of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic from 1950 to 2016 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 08, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1054199/population-of-east-and-west-germany/
Statistisches Bundesamt. "Population in the former territories of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic from 1950 to 2016." Chart. June 1, 2017. Statista. Accessed November 08, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1054199/population-of-east-and-west-germany/
Statistisches Bundesamt. (2017). Population in the former territories of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic from 1950 to 2016. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 08, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1054199/population-of-east-and-west-germany/
Statistisches Bundesamt. "Population in The Former Territories of The Federal Republic of Germany and The German Democratic Republic from 1950 to 2016." Statista, Statista Inc., 1 Jun 2017, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1054199/population-of-east-and-west-germany/
Statistisches Bundesamt, Population in the former territories of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic from 1950 to 2016 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1054199/population-of-east-and-west-germany/ (last visited November 08, 2024)
Population in the former territories of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic from 1950 to 2016 [Graph], Statistisches Bundesamt, June 1, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1054199/population-of-east-and-west-germany/