Germany’s population at the end of 2024 was approximately 83.6 million, according to a preliminary estimate by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This represents a growth of nearly 100,000 people compared to the end of 2023.
The natural population balance, which is the difference between the number of births and deaths, continued to be negative in 2024, as it has been in every year since German reunification. In contrast, the net migration, which is the difference between the number of people moving into the country and those leaving, was the sole driver of the population growth.
The estimates are based on the ongoing adjustment of the population count based on the 2022 census results. As a result of the 2022 census, the population count was revised from approximately 84 million (based on the previous 2011 census) to around 82.7 million (based on the 2022 census results) as of May 15, 2022.
Both the number of births and the number of deaths decreased by around 2.5% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the statisticians. Based on the already available reports from the registration offices, it is estimated that there were 670,000 to 690,000 births in 2024 (2023: 692,989), while the number of deaths was around 1,000,000 (2023: 1,030,000).
This results in a birth deficit of 310,000 to 330,000 for 2024, marking the third consecutive year with a deficit of over 300,000. In 2023, the birth deficit had reached a record high of 335,217, while the average annual birth deficit from 1991 to 2021 was 137,380.
The net migration, which is the balance of in- and out-migration, is estimated by the Federal Statistical Office to be around 400,000 to 440,000 for 2024. This represents a decline of at least 34% compared to the previous year (662,964) and is comparable to the levels seen from 2016 to 2019 (average of 410,000). The decrease in net migration is primarily due to a decrease in migration from Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, and European Union countries, according to preliminary data.