Germany's Population Declines Slightly in 2025 Amid Birth Deficit and Lower Migration

Germany's population experienced a modest decline in 2025, shrinking by approximately 110,000 individuals, or 0.1%, to reach 83.5 million residents by the end of the year, according to the Statistisches Bundesamt. This marks the first overall population decrease since 2011, aside from the pandemic year of 2020. The decline is primarily attributed to a birth deficit, with 352,000 more deaths than births recorded in 2025, up from 331,000 the previous year. Meanwhile, net migration fell sharply from 430,000 in 2024 to 235,000 in 2025, insufficient to offset the natural population loss.

Regionally, the population decline was more pronounced in eastern federal states, which saw reductions of about 0.5%. Conversely, the city-states of Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen stood out as exceptions with population growth. Hamburg in particular experienced a 0.4% increase, reaching 1,869,473 inhabitants. Andreas Breitner, director of the Association of Northern German Housing Companies, highlighted the need for political support in Hamburg, calling for expanded housing subsidies and streamlined bureaucratic processes to maintain the growth momentum amid rising construction and financing costs.

Demographically, the population aged 60 and over increased by 387,000 individuals, now representing 31% of the total population. Notably, the age group 60 to 79 grew by 358,000 people (2.8%), reflecting the aging baby boomer generation, while those over 80 years declined by 151,000 (2.5%). The younger population under 20 years reduced by 88,000 (0.6%), underscoring an aging society and highlighting challenges for Germany's future workforce and social systems.

Overall, Germany faces demographic shifts driven by sustained birth deficits and diminishing immigration inflows, leading to population decline outside select urban centers. Experts emphasize the need for targeted policies, especially to support housing in growing regions like Hamburg, to mitigate the impacts of these population trends.