Number of young people in Germany at historic low

At the close of 2025, Germany witnessed a historic low in its population of young individuals, numbering just 8.3 million aged between 15 and 24 years old. This demographic shift is indicative of a steady decline observed since the mid-1980s, where this age group accounted for approximately 16.7 percent of the nation's population.

Today, they constitute a mere 10 percent of Germany's 83 million inhabitants, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This figure becomes even more pronounced when considering only those without a migration background, with the young population then comprising 8.5 percent of the total.

Geographical distribution of this youthful demographic is far from uniform. Bremen leads with 11 percent of its population falling within this age range, followed by Hamburg (10.5 percent) and Baden-Württemberg (10.4 percent). Conversely, the eastern states of Germany exhibit the lowest proportion of young people: Thuringia (9.2 percent), Saxony-Anhalt (9.1 percent), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (9.1 percent), and Brandenburg (8.8 percent).

These states also boast the lowest birth rates in the country. As of 2025, Germany's total fertility rate has plummeted to 1.32 children per woman, down from 1.58 in 1976. Additionally, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (1.21 children), Thuringia (1.20 children), and Saxony (1.16 children) stand out with the lowest birth rates among the 16 federal states.

The German Economic Institute (IW) has expressed concern over the population's decline, which has surpassed initial projections. Initially anticipating a population of 85 million by 2040, the institute now forecasts Germany's population to shrink to 82 million by the same year. The IW predicts that the aging population will result in a shortage of around 4.3 million workers by 2036.

Should migration not be encouraged to address these worker shortages, the institute projects Germany's economic growth rate to slow to 0.4 percent per year, potentially even reaching 0 percent by 2029.