The gender distribution across Germany varies significantly depending on age group and region.
In younger demographics, there is generally a higher proportion of men. For those aged 18 to 29, the male majority is particularly noticeable. According to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) in January 2025, the ratio nationally was 912 women per 1,000 men in this age bracket. Among those under 18, the ratio was 947 women per 1,000 men, while the 30- to 49-year-old group showed 969 women per 1,000 men. This trend is partly attributed to the slight biological imbalance where slightly more boys are born than girls, combined with a net influx of men immigrating to Germany.
Conversely, among people over 50, women are the dominant group. This demographic shift is primarily due to women generally having a longer life expectancy. Furthermore, higher emigration rates of men within this age group contribute to this imbalance. Specifically, in the 50- to 64-year-old category, there were 1,011 women per 1,000 men. This female surplus is most pronounced among those aged 65 and over, reaching a ratio of 1,260 women per 1,000 men nationally. Overall, nationally, there are slightly more women living in Germany: 1,027 women per 1,000 men.
Regional differences in the gender ratio are considerable and influenced by various factors, including local population age structures. Recently, women have been in the majority in all federal states. The strongest female majority was observed in Schleswig-Holstein (1,044 women per 1,000 men), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (1,043), and Hamburg (1,042). Conversely, the most balanced sex ratios were found in Baden-Württemberg (1,016), Bayern (1,017), and Bremen (1,019).
Examining age groups regionally reveals a different picture. Among those under 18 and those aged 18 to 29, men were in the majority across all federal states. The highest male surplus in the 18- to 29-year-old group occurred in Sachsen-Anhalt (856 women per 1,000 men), Brandenburg (862), and Thuringia (867). As people age, the proportion of men declines. Although men were still slightly dominant in the 30- to 49-year-old age group nationwide, the imbalance was less pronounced.
For the 50- to 64-year-old category, a female surplus was only seen in the five eastern states. This is partly linked to the emigration of many young women from the eastern to the western federal states after 1991. For the 65+ age group, however, all federal states exhibited a high female surplus. Sachsen-Anhalt led in this group with 1,336 women per 1,000 men, followed closely by Sachsen (1,328) and Hamburg (1,328).
