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Germany birth rates hit post-WWII low as population of potential mothers declines
Germany recorded its lowest number of births since the end of World War II in 2025, with approximately 654,000 children born. This represents an 11 percent decrease compared to ten years ago.
A study by the Institute of the German Economy (IW) indicates that no rapid recovery is expected through 2035. The primary driver is a projected 10.2 percent decline in the number of women aged 25 to 39, the demographic most likely to become parents.
The decline is particularly pronounced in eastern German states, where births fell by one third over the last decade, and by more than 40 percent among mothers with German citizenship. In western Germany, the decline was less severe, ranging between 6 and 8 percent.
Additionally, the average number of children per woman fell to 1.32 in 2025, the lowest level in roughly 30 years. Experts suggest that to reverse this trend, policymakers must improve childcare support and facilitate the decision to have children, especially regarding third or subsequent children.
Entities
Federal Statistical Office · Germany · IGBCE · Institute of the German Economy · McKinsey · Wido Geis-Thöne · YouGov
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Births among mothers with German citizenship in eastern states fell by more than 40 percent. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.upday.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The average number of children per woman in Germany was 1.32 in 2025. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.upday.com
- [● 16 SOURCES] The number of women aged 25 to 39 is projected to decrease by 10.2 percent by 2035 compared to 2025. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · +11 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] The average number of children per woman is at its lowest level in approximately 30 years. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.upday.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The number of young women in western Germany is expected to decline continuously beyond 2035. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.upday.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Germany recorded approximately 654,000 births in 2025. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.upday.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The number of births in 2025 was roughly 11 percent lower than ten years prior. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.upday.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Births in eastern German states fell by one third over a ten-year period. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.upday.com