By the end of 2025, Germany’s population was about 83.5 million. According to the first estimate from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this is roughly 100,000 people fewer than at the end of 2024, when the population was 83.6 million. The last years in which the population decreased were 2003 through 2010 and the first pandemic year, 2020. From 2011 to 2024 the population grew each year with the exception of 2020.
In 2025, as in every year since the 1990 reunification, the number of deaths exceeded the number of births. The difference between births and deaths – the birth deficit – widened compared to previous years, while the balance of immigration and emigration (net migration) fell sharply. For the first time since 2020, migration gains could not close the gap between births and deaths, and the population fell.
Births declined further in 2025. Based on the data already received from civil registry offices, 640 000 to 660 000 births are expected for the year (2024 saw 677,117 births). Deaths numbered around 1.00 million, compared with 1.01 million in 2024. This yields a birth deficit of 340 000 to 360 000 people. Since 2022 the deficit has exceeded 300 000, with 330 641 in 2024. In the 2010s the average deficit was 171 423 persons.
During the first ten months of 2025 Germany experienced 220 000 more immigration arrivals than emigration departures. Thus the net migration was much lower than in the same period of 2024, which had 391.5 k more arrivals than departures. For the entire year 2025, the net migration is estimated at 220 000 to 260 000 people, a fall of at least 40 % compared with the 430 183 persons recorded in 2024. The only year with a similarly low level of net migration was the pandemic year 2020, with 220 251 people. Across the period 1990-2024 the average annual migration balance was 356 000, significantly higher than recent figures.