Germany's Population Expansion in 2024: More People Than Ever Before, But Not All Good News
High population resides in Germany at present record levels.
Germany's population is on the rise, with nearly 83.6 million people residing in the country by the end of 2024. This slight increase isn't due to an baby boom, but rather an influx of immigrants. However, there are considerable variations among the federal states, with some states experiencing significant population decline.
Last year, the population grew by a mere 0.1%, accounting for 121,000 newcomers. This is a considerable drop compared to the year before, which saw a 0.4% increase, or 338,000 new residents. The escalating death rate, which now exceeds the birth rate, is the primary reason for the natural population decline.
The decline in the migration balance, which represents the difference between immigration and emigration, is also a contributing factor. In 2023, the migration balance was plus 660,000, contrasted by a much lower figure of 420,000 in 2024. This indicates that more people are still moving into Germany than leaving, which continues to propel the population growth.
Population Shifts: West vs. East
The western federal states experienced a 0.2% population growth, whereas the eastern federal states (excluding Berlin) saw a decrease of 0.3%. Bavaria, as well as the city-states of Berlin and Hamburg, led the growth, with each state registering a 0.6% increase.
Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt, on the other hand, faced the greatest population losses, with a decline of 0.7%, 0.3%, and 0.4%, respectively.
Aging Population
The population growth varies significantly depending on age group. There were more individuals between the ages of 60 and 79 (a 2.2% increase), but fewer individuals between the ages of 40 and 59 (a 1.4% decrease). The baby boomer generation of 1964 moving into the 60 to 79 age group is responsible for this shift.
The number of individuals aged 80 and over also increased, resulting in 30.5% of the total population in Germany being 60 years or older.
Foreign Population Growth
The foreign population rose by 2.3% last year, reaching 12.4 million, while the native German population fell by 0.2% to 71.2 million. Consequently, the foreigner percentage increased from 14.5% to 14.8%. The highest percentage was found in the 20 to 59 age group, with 19.7%, while the lowest was in the 60 and over age group, with 6.3%.
As in previous years, the largest groups of immigrants were Turks, Ukrainians, Syrians, Romanians, and Poles.
Source: ntv.de, mbr/dpa
Fun Fact:
Global population grew by one Germany in 2024, marking the largest increase in Africa during the same period[2].
Insights
- Germany's current population growth is attributable to net migration, as the natural decline due to decreased birth rates and increased death rates remains unchecked.
- Population growth is uneven among federal states, with urban and economically stronger regions gaining more immigrants and population, whereas some rural and eastern states face continued decline.
- The demographic trend presents challenges related to aging population, workforce shortages, and social integration policies, which Germany is addressing through immigration policy adjustments and family support measures.
References:[1] armscontrolwonk.org/acwonk/germanys-low-fertility-rate-is-a-problem/[2] thepopulationpyramid.net/africa/algeria/2024/[3] statista.com/statistics/1005194/germany-immigrants-population-foreigners-n-residents[4] demographia.com/db-germanymigration.pdf[5] dw.com/en/germany/why-migration-will-continue-to-be-a-hot-topic-in-germany/a-47477347
The rise in Germany's population in 2024, despite being due to immigrants, is influenced by both politics (immigration policy) and general-news (employment policy), as the nation grapples with population shifts and an aging population. The foreign population growth, reflected in the increase of immigrants from various countries such as Turks, Ukrainians, Syrians, Romanians, and Poles, has significant implications for employment policy and community policy, given the challenges posed by workforce shortages and social integration.
As a result of this demographic trend, Germany is implementing immigration policy adjustments and family support measures to address the challenges of an aging population, workforce shortages, and social integration. This situation underscores the relevance of discussing politics and employment policies in relation to the population growth experiences in Germany, especially considering the variations among the federal states and the unexpected distribution of immigrants.
