A minimal portion of the overall population consists of young individuals, accounting for just 10% of the total count.
In a significant demographic shift, Germany's youth population has reached a historic low of 10% of the total population, as of late 2024. This decline is attributed primarily to low birth rates, rising life expectancy, and regional disparities, leading to an aging population where the share of elderly citizens increases while that of younger and working-age groups decreases.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Germany's youth proportion is slightly below the EU average of 10.7% for the 15-24 age group. If not for the influx of young immigrants, particularly following the Russia-Ukraine conflict beginning in 2022, the youth population would be even smaller—around 8.5%. Among descendants of immigrants, the youth share is significantly higher at 20.7%.
The shrinking youth population poses serious challenges for Germany’s labor market and social systems, intensifying shortages of skilled workers and increasing pressure on pension and long-term care systems. The Federal Employment Agency has highlighted this demographic shift as a threat to Germany’s economic competitiveness, emphasizing the need for policies to foster youth inclusion and leverage immigration to sustain demographic and economic vitality.
A comparison of the youth proportion across Europe reveals that Ireland has the highest youth share in the EU at 12.6%, while Bulgaria has the lowest at 9.2%. Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, two eastern states in Germany, have under 9% youth, while some western areas reach just over 11%.
In summary, Germany's historical low youth proportion results from demographic aging and low fertility, partially offset by immigration. This low youth proportion complicates future economic and social planning, underscoring the need for policies to address the demographic imbalance and leverage immigration to sustain Germany's economic and social vitality.
| Aspect | Germany (2024) | EU Average | EU Highest (Ireland) | EU Lowest (Bulgaria) | |------------------------|----------------|------------|---------------------|---------------------| | Youth proportion (15-24)| 10% | 10.7% | 12.6% | 9.2% | | Native youth share | 8.6% | — | — | — | | Youth among immigrant descendants | 20.7% | — | — | — | | Key causes | Low birth rate, aging population, regional disparities, immigration impact | — | — | — |
References:
[1] Federal Employment Agency [2] Federal Statistical Office [3] Eurostat [4] European Union statistical office [5] German Federal Government
This article is based on data provided by the Federal Statistical Office, Eurostat, and the German Federal Government.
- The low youth population in Germany, particularly within the 15-24 age group, is slightly below the EU average, yet among descendants of immigrants, the youth share significantly exceeds that of the EU average and native German population.
- In light of the shrinking youth population and its impact on Germany's labor market and social systems, the Federal Employment Agency has emphasized the need for policies that foster youth inclusion and leverage immigration to maintain demographic and economic vitality, comparable to the highest youth share seen in Ireland within the EU.
