According to preliminary figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Tuesday, Germany recorded approximately 654,300 births in 2025. This marks a reduction of 3.4% compared to the previous year (2024, with 677,117 births), representing the fourth consecutive year the birth rate has declined, reaching its lowest point since 1946.
The total estimated deaths (around 1.01 million) exceeded the number of births by 352,000-the largest post-war birth deficit. Statisticians attribute these consistently low numbers to two major demographic trends: the entry of the relatively small baby boomer cohorts from the 1990s into their prime childbearing years (early thirties), and a declining total fertility rate since 2022.
In terms of birth patterns, the structure remained stable in 2025. Of all babies born, 46.6% were first children, 34.8% were second children, and 18.6% were third or subsequent children.
Both regional and international figures show similar downward trends. Compared to 2024, birth rates dropped in the eastern German states by 4.5%, which was steeper than the decline seen in the western states at 3.2%. Among the individual federal states, only Hamburg reported a minor increase of 0.5%, while Mecklenburg-Vorpommern saw the sharpest decline at -8.4%.
In the broader European context, preliminary data indicates falling birth rates in several EU nations, including France, Austria, Italy, and Sweden. Conversely, Spain, the Netherlands, and Finland are reporting a stabilization of their birth numbers.
Looking ahead, statisticians noted that a future rise in German births would only be possible with a significant increase in the total fertility rate combined with at least moderate net immigration. Even under such favorable assumptions, figures are expected to remain below the high level of approximately 795,000 births seen in 2021.