Germany's Population Trends: A Closer Look
Germany saw a modest increase in its populace during the preceding year.
Germany's population saw a slight increase in 2024, growing by around 0.1%, or roughly 121,000 people, bringing the total to near 83.6 million. This growth was driven primarily by net migration, as births continued to lag behind deaths [1][2][3].
Geographically, the western states witnessed a 0.2% population expansion, adding 136,000 people. In contrast, the eastern states, excluding Berlin, faced a 0.3% decline, with a loss of 38,000 [1].
The states with the most significant population losses included Thuringia (-0.7%), Saxony (-0.3%), and Saxony-Anhalt (-0.4%), while Bavaria experienced the largest gain (+0.6%) [1].
The net migration surplus decreased compared to the previous year, standing at 420,000. However, the resident population declined due to more deaths than births, with both figures being similar to those of 2023 [1].
The foreign population surged by 2.3% to 12.4 million, while the German population decreased by 0.2%. As a result, the foreign population share rose from 14.5% in 2023 to 14.8% in 2024 [1]. The top foreign groups were Turks, Ukrainians, and Syrians.
Underlying trends reveal that the natural population decline (more deaths than births) has been a constant issue since 1972 [4][5]. Immigration helps mitigate this problem, but challenges remain in retaining skilled workers, as about 26% of immigrants aged 18 to 65 consider leaving Germany [1].
In essence, while Germany experienced a marginal population increase in 2024, the image is complex. There are disparities between states, with population growth concentrated in economically strong regions and decline observed in rural and eastern areas. If not for immigration, many states would likely experience sharper declines due to ongoing natural decrease and aging demographics [4][5].
The community is considering implementing a new policy to address the ongoing issue of the natural population decline, particularly in rural and eastern areas, by increasing vocational training opportunities for skilled workers to retain them [1]. In the general-news sector, the discussion of politics in relation to Germany's population trends often involves the role of vocational training in maintaining a balanced workforce distribution across the country. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
