A Record Decline in Fertility Rate in Germany: Is the Advanced Society Facing a Demographic Challenge?
Digitally and socially, data lines draw a story that Germany narrates over the past year, as the country was surprised by its lowest fertility rate since 2013, with a total of only 738,819 births recorded. This number is a cause for concern.
In 2022, the birth rate declined by 7% compared to the previous year, posing a new challenge for the German society. The year 2021 had been historically significant for the country, witnessing the highest birth rate since 1997.
Considering the faint figures, the fertility rate declined by 8% last year compared to the previous year, reaching an average of 1.46 children per woman.
If we exclude migration factors, achieving a fertility rate of 2 children per woman is considered essential to maintain the population balance of an advanced country.
Decline in the birth rate in Germany
Clear regional differences are evident within the country, as cities like Hamburg and Berlin witnessed a sharp decline of 10% in birth rates, whereas the decline in the city of Bremen reached 4%.
The states of Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony rank at the top of the list of regions with the highest birth rates, with an average of 1.52 children per woman. In contrast, Berlin tops the opposite end of the list with the lowest rate of 0.25 children per woman, the lowest level since 2017.
These numbers are not just statistics; they carry a significant social implication that the German society must ponder upon and take decisive action to enhance awareness and support for families, and create an environment that facilitates family planning decisions and achieves a balance between professional and family life.
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