Germany Faces Historic Decline in Youth Population with Stark Regional and Immigration Disparities

As of the end of 2025, Germany's population aged 15 to 24 has reached a historic low of just 10%, equating to roughly 8.3 million individuals, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This marks a significant decline from the early 1980s when young people made up 16.7% of the population, highlighting a demographic shift toward an aging society.

The decline in youth population is especially pronounced in the eastern federal states. Brandenburg exhibits the lowest share at 8.8%, followed by Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt with 9.1% each, and Thuringia at 9.2%. In contrast, Bremen has the highest proportion of youth at 11.1%, with Hamburg also comparatively high at 10.5%.

Beyond regional differences, immigration background plays a role in youth demographics. Only 8.5% of young people lack an immigration background, whereas 12.2% of those with an immigration heritage belong to the youth category. This proportion further increases among descendants of immigrants, reaching 20.4% for individuals with two immigrant parents and 20.0% for those with one.

Comparatively, Germany's youth proportion lags behind the European Union average of 10.7%, with Ireland leading at 12.7%. This demographic trend poses potential challenges for Germany’s economy and entrepreneurship, as a shrinking young workforce may require businesses to adapt their strategies accordingly.

This demographic reality has persisted since the early 2020s, underscoring ongoing concerns about Germany’s population structure, particularly impacting eastern regions and populations without immigrant backgrounds.