Childcare enrollment declines in German states amid falling birth rates

Recent data from statistical offices in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate indicate a decline in the number of children enrolled in childcare facilities, reflecting a broader trend of declining birth rates.

In Baden-Württemberg, the number of children under six in daycare and publicly funded childminding services fell by 0.6 percent to 406,450 as of March 2026. The decline was most pronounced among children under three, which saw a 5.2 percent decrease. Despite this, the overall childcare coverage rate for children under six reached a record high of 65 percent. The state has seen a significant drop in birth rates, falling from 1.63 children per woman in 2021 to 1.35 in 2025.

Similarly, Rhineland-Palatinate reported a 1.5 percent decrease in childcare attendance, with approximately 168,800 children enrolled across nearly 2,800 facilities. The number of children under three decreased by 2.9 percent. While the coverage rate for children aged three to six remains high at 95.5 percent, local authorities face the challenge of maintaining quality and legal entitlements despite the shrinking number of children.