Germany’s total fertility rate, a key demographic indicator, has decreased to 1.35 children per woman in 2024, a drop of two percent compared to 1.38 in 2023. This represents a significant slowdown in the rate of decline, following decreases of eight percent and seven percent in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
A total of 677,117 children were born in Germany in 2024, a decrease of 15,872 or two percent compared to the previous year.
Regional variations exist, with fertility rates ranging from 1.21 in Berlin to 1.42 in Lower Saxony. Eastern German states recorded a lower fertility rate of 1.27 children per woman, compared to 1.38 in western states. Brandenburg, an eastern state, registered the highest fertility rate within the eastern region at 1.34 children per woman.
All German states experienced a decline in fertility rates in 2024, with Thuringia experiencing the most significant drop – a seven percent decrease from 1.33 to 1.24 children per woman. Baden-Württemberg saw the smallest decline, at one percent.
The total fertility rate among women with German citizenship fell to 1.23 children per woman, a level not seen since 1996. Conversely, the fertility rate among women with foreign citizenship was 1.84 children per woman, a two percent decrease year-on-year, continuing a generally downward trend since 2017.
An analysis of women born in 1975, who reached the end of their statistically defined childbearing age in 2024, revealed an average of 1.58 children per woman. This figure follows a period of decline and represents a higher rate than observed among women born in the 1960s.
The average age of mothers at birth in 2024 was 31.8 years, while fathers averaged 34.7 years. This marks a steady increase over time, with mothers being, on average, 2.9 years younger than fathers. The average age of mothers having their first child was 30.4 years and fathers were 33.3 years old.
