Germany has recorded the lowest number of newborns since 1946

In Germany, by the end of 2025, the lowest number of children born in 80 years was recorded. This was reported on April 28 by the German newspaper Berliner Zeitung with reference to the Federal Statistical Office of the country.

According to preliminary data, about 654,300 children were born in Germany in 2025. This is 3.4% less than in 2024, when 677,117 children were born, and the lowest figure since 1946, the department said. The ministry added that the number of deaths, which amounted to about 1.01 million, exceeded the number of births by 352 thousand, which led to the largest shortage of births since the Second World War.

The report of the Federal Statistical Office shows that the largest decline in the birth rate was recorded in the east of the country — the indicator decreased by 4.5% compared with a decrease of 3.2% in the western regions of Germany. At the same time, it is noted that the only federal state where there was an increase in the birth rate is Hamburg, where the number of newborns increased by 0.5%. Management explains the demographic decline by two factors: first, the generation born in the 1990s is small in number and only now, after reaching the age of 30, is starting to think about having children.

In addition, the total fertility rate in the country has been decreasing since 2022. Even the most favorable calculations show that the birth rate in Germany will not exceed the figure of 2021, when 795 thousand people were born, but the final forecast will be made only by July 2026.

Europe compensates for the drop in the birth rate with migrants. Analysis

In January, it was noted that the population in China in 2025 decreased by 3.39 million people. At the same time, the number of births amounted to 7.92 million people, and deaths - 11.31 million people. Thus, the natural population growth has a negative indicator — 2.41 per thousand residents.

Also in 2024, it was reported that the birth rate in Germany declined significantly and fell to its lowest level since 2009. The reasons for such a decrease in the number of people, scientists called the crises of our time, including rising inflation, as well as climate change.