Bremen’s Population Grows Amid Germany’s Nationwide Decline in 2025

Germany experienced a population decline in 2025, dropping by 110,000 residents to approximately 83.5 million, marking the first decrease since 2011, excluding the pandemic year 2020. This 0.1% shrinkage is attributed to a significant birth deficit of 352,000 more deaths than births, which net immigration of 235,000 individuals could not offset, according to the Statistical Federal Office.

Despite this overall decline, the city-state of Bremen stands out with population growth. Bremen's total population rose to 706,915 in 2025, with Bremen city itself increasing by 0.37% to 588,413 residents. However, Bremerhaven experienced a slight decline of 0.09%, with 118,502 residents. Bremen is among the few German city-states—alongside Berlin and Hamburg—that saw population increases.

Eastern federal states endured the steepest declines, facing a 0.5% population drop, highlighting regional disparities. Demographically, the 60-and-older age group continued to expand, growing by 387,000 people and accounting for 31% of the population, driven by the aging baby boomer generation. Meanwhile, populations under 20, and those over 80, decreased. The foreign population in Germany grew modestly by 39,000.

This demographic trend reflects a shifting German population landscape with fewer births and reduced immigration balances compared to previous years, as the migration surplus fell from 430,000 in 2024 to 235,000 in 2025. Analysts have warned that this could signal a long-term population decline. Bremen’s population growth, though modest, provides a contrast to the broader national trend and underlines the complex regional demographic shifts occurring across Germany.