Germany's population fell in 2025 for the first time since 2020

Among the foreign population, the increase of 0.3 percent was significantly below the average of the past 15 years. The statisticians regard this as a key reason why the previous growth trend could not be continued.

Age structure: baby boomers the only growing group

A look at the age structure shows a clear shift: the only age group to grow was the 60- to 79-year-olds, the so-called baby boomers, by 2.5 percent. All other age groups shrank, with the share of those over 80 declining the most, because the low-birth-rate cohorts around the end of the Second World War are moving into this age bracket.

Regional differences: the East more severely affected

Regionally, developments varied considerably. Thuringia recorded the steepest population decline of all federal states, at roughly 1.0 percent (minus 21,331 people), and had 2,078,946 inhabitants as of 31 December 2025. Saxony-Anhalt followed with a decline of 0.7 percent and 2,120,252 inhabitants, 15,345 fewer than at the end of 2024.

Saxony also continued to lose population: the figure fell by just under 0.4 percent to 4,026,599 people, a decrease of 15,823 persons compared with the previous year's figure of 4,043,002. Overall, the population decline in the eastern federal states, at an average of 0.5 percent, was proportionally sharper than in the western German states, where it stood at minus 0.1 percent.

City-states grow against the trend

The only federal states with population growth were the three city-states: Hamburg recorded an increase of 0.4 percent, Berlin also rose by 0.4 percent, and Bremen grew by 0.3 percent. According to the statisticians, Hamburg's population has risen continuously for many years, with the exception of 2022.

In all area states, population figures declined compared with the previous year or remained largely stable. The Federal Statistical Office summarized the finding with the statement that net immigration can no longer offset the birth deficit.

Developments among the foreign population and in the individual federal states support this assessment. The slower growth among the foreign population and the weak natural population development shape the overall picture for 2025.

The published data set does not yet allow a definitive conclusion as to whether the decline represents a one-off effect or the beginning of a longer-term trend reversal. The Federal Statistical Office pointed out that the final figures are published annually in the summer.