Germany’s population of centenarians – individuals aged 100 or older – has seen a significant increase in recent years, according to data released by the Statistical Federal Office (Destatis). As of the end of 2024, approximately 17,900 people in Germany reached the milestone of a century or more, marking a rise of nearly 24.0 percent compared to 2011, when the figure stood at around 14,400.
This demographic shift underscores a long-term trend of increasing life expectancy, which varies between genders; women consistently demonstrate a higher life expectancy than men. The proportion of centenarians continues to grow within the overall population; in 2011, there were 1.8 individuals aged 100 or older per 10,000 residents. By 2024, this ratio had risen to 2.1.
Geographic distribution of this age group is uneven across the country. The highest absolute numbers of centenarians reside in the populous states of North Rhine-Westphalia (3,900), Bavaria (2,400) and Baden-Württemberg (2,300). However, when considering the proportion relative to the total population, the city-state of Hamburg demonstrates the highest concentration, with 2.9 centenarians per 10,000 residents. States of Saxony and Saarland also show comparatively high proportions. Conversely, Bavaria, Bremen and Brandenburg have the lowest percentages of individuals aged 100 or older relative to their overall populations.
Globally, the trend mirrors Germany’s experience, although on a smaller scale. United Nations projections indicate that the number of centenarians worldwide has also climbed. In 2011, there were 0.4 individuals aged 100 or older per 10,000 residents; this number rose to 0.7 by 2024. Globally, approximately 587,000 individuals reached the age of 100 or more in 2024, with approximately 81 percent being women. Countries with the highest estimated numbers of centenarians include Japan (121,000), the United States (70,000) and China (43,000).
