According to new government statistics, fewer Germans are choosing to get married and have children, yet the population continues to increase due to immigration and the offspring of immigrants. In 2023, about 693,000 babies were born in Germany, which has a population of around 84.5 million, showing a decrease of 6.2% compared to the previous year. The number of births in Germany is at its lowest point since 2013, with more deaths than births recorded annually.
A noticeable shift in birth trends is evident, with fewer women opting to have children, but those who do are having more offspring. The number of first-born children to new mothers has decreased to levels not seen since 2009, while the number of third or subsequent children born is on the rise. This pattern is attributed to immigrant women in Germany, who play a significant role in the increase in births of third and subsequent children.
Similar demographic changes are observed in other countries, such as the Netherlands, where the total fertility rate has fallen to its lowest level ever. The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion has also increased over the years. Additionally, the number of marriages in Germany has declined by 7.6% in a year, reaching a historic low in modern German history.
Despite the declining number of natural-born families, Germany’s population continues to grow due to record levels of immigration. The country has experienced a significant increase in foreign workers from non-EU countries, with Indians, Russians, and Turks being among the largest groups of new arrivals. As the trend of decreasing birth rates continues globally, other countries like Hungary have seen an increase in birth rates, indicating variations in demographic patterns across different regions.
