New government data reveal a sharp fertility drop and stark regional gaps, prompting urgent debate on family policies and migration measures.
According to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), in 2025 Germany registered about 655 thousand newborns, compared with around 680 thousand in 2024.
At the same time, last year Germany recorded more than a million deaths. Thus, the birth deficit stands at around 350 thousand, another record low for the country.
Last year was marked by the fourth consecutive year of decline and the lowest birth rate in the country since 1946.
The current fertility replacement rate stands at 1.35 children per woman, a record low and well below the 2.1 necessary to sustain a stable population.
Regional disparities and long-term projections
As before, the number of births in 2025 declined more sharply in the eastern German states (-4.5%) than in the western (-3.2%) compared with 2024.
Long-term Destatis projections, covering up to 2070, indicate a possible decline in Germany’s population of about 10% by that time. The report concludes that immigration will not compensate for this decline.
“a dramatic alarm bell”
– Familienverband
According to experts, the decline in birth rates is the result of decades of structural discrimination against traditional forms of family, rather than a random coincidence. This position was stated by Sebastian Heymann, the Association’s Federal Executive Director.
In summary, demographic trends in Germany require a comprehensive approach – supporting families and adaptive immigration policy can influence the recovery of birth rates and demographic stability in the mid-term.