Demographics in Germany have changed in recent decades. Many trends are the same as in other European countries. Some of these are a positive development, while others will impact German society and economy on a long-term basis and potentially lead to challenges. Contributing factors of key importance as far as demographic developments are concerned include the national birth and mortality rates, age structures in the population, as well as mobility,
An aging population and smaller households?
In general, the term demographic change refers to an increasingly established departure from demographic models which had been common earlier. The change in German demographic structure is also noticeable because of the prevalence of
older age groups. As the 21st century proceeds into full-fledged adulthood after its 21st birthday,
forecasts predict population numbers in Germany will continue to fall in the following decades. A common example is the growing number of
one person households in Germany, and the same can be said for two person households. Meanwhile, larger household numbers have been decreasing. Though it doesn't necessarily follow that every household with more than two members included children, this is still a pattern that can also be connected to changes in family planning among the population.
Births and marriages
Most German
families with children had one child. Compared to other European countries, Germany actually still recorded some of
the highest number of marriages. This is however, not a completely reliable indicator of population growth as in Germany those who get married receive a tax break so it may not be the case that they intend to start a family. The
birth rate in Germany has generally been falling for a long time, though occasional increases have also been recorded. As of 2023, there were 738,819 births. Based on the most recent data, approximately 1.46 children were
born per woman. If this trend is to carry on then the population will continue to decrease, which can have negative impacts on the workforce and consequently the economy.
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