Eastern German states grapple with population decline and school staffing cuts

Saxony announced plans to eliminate 4,600 teaching positions as projected student numbers are expected to fall by about 80,000 by 2040. The move has drawn criticism from teachers' unions and academic associations, who warn it could increase workloads for remaining staff.

Meanwhile, the Federal Statistical Office reported that Saxony‑Anhalt experienced the second‑largest population drop among German states in 2025, with the total falling to 2,120,252 – a loss of 15,345 residents from the previous year. The broader trend shows a 0.7 % decline in the state and a 0.1 % decline nationwide, driven by a higher death rate than births and reduced net migration.