In 2024, 40-59-year-olds made up the largest age group in Germany, at around 22.3 million people. The most recent figures confirm that the next-largest age group was 65 years and older, at roughly 19 million. Aging population With the number of people belonging to older age groups visibly outstripping younger ones, in recent years it has become clear that Germany’s population is aging. In fact, figures on age structure in Germany depict a constant trend of a slowly increasing population share aged over 65 since 2012. Meanwhile, the share of population members aged 0 to 14 years has been falling, which was also reflected in the fluctuating national birth rate in recent years. A look at the future Germany’s current total population is around 83.6 million. While this number is predicted to increase, the same goes for the age group of 65 years and older. This means that the national population will continue to age.

The total population in Germany was estimated at 83.6 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Germany Population - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Germany (POPTOTDEA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about Germany and population.

In 2024, the population in Germany, as of December 31 of that year, amounted to around 83.6 million people. This was an increase compared to the previous year.

Key information about Germany population

• The Germany population reached 83.6 million people in Dec 2024, compared with the previously reported figure of 83.5 million people in Dec 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 83.6 million people in Dec 2024 and a record low of 69.3 million people in Dec 1950

• In the latest reports, Germany Unemployment Rate remained the same at 3.8 % in Oct 2025
• Monthly earnings of the Germany population was 5,640.2 USD in Sep 2025
• Germany Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 57.0 % in Sep 2025

Germany Population: East data was reported at 16,147.618 Person th in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 16,163.795 Person th for 2020. Germany Population: East data is updated yearly, averaging 16,722.586 Person th from Dec 1950 (Median) to 2021, with 72 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18,388.172 Person th in 1950 and a record low of 15,119.530 Person th in 2000. Germany Population: East data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G001: Population.

Germany Population: German data was reported at 71,347,057.000 Person in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 71,623,366.000 Person for 2022. Germany Population: German data is updated yearly, averaging 73,207,573.500 Person from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2023, with 54 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 75,212,869.000 Person in 2004 and a record low of 56,478,581.000 Person in 1986. Germany Population: German data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G001: Population. Population prior to 1990 covers West Germany only.

Germany Population: West data was reported at 68,002.000 Person th in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 67,089.506 Person th for 2021. Germany Population: West data is updated yearly, averaging 61,809.378 Person th from Dec 1950 (Median) to 2022, with 73 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 68,002.000 Person th in 2022 and a record low of 50,958.100 Person th in 1950. Germany Population: West data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G001: Population.

Germany Population: Average: Inactive Persons data was reported at 37,378.000 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 36,991.000 Person th for 2022. Germany Population: Average: Inactive Persons data is updated yearly, averaging 37,378.000 Person th from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2023, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 40,147.000 Person th in 1995 and a record low of 36,302.000 Person th in 2013. Germany Population: Average: Inactive Persons data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G001: Population.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Germany (SPPOPGROWDEU) from 1961 to 2024 about Germany, population, and rate.

The past two years have seen Germany's population fall, with 2025's drop projected to be the second largest decrease since 1950. The largest single-year increase came in 2015, in the midst of the Syrian refugee crisis, where over one million Syrians eventually settled in Germany.

The total population of Germany was estimated at over 84.4 million inhabitants in 2025, although it is projected to drop in the coming years and fall below 80 million in 2043. Germany is the most populous country located entirely in Europe, and is third largest when Russia and Turkey are included. Germany's prosperous economy makes it a popular destination for immigrants of all backgrounds, which has kept its population above 80 million for several decades. Population growth and stability has depended on immigration In every year since 1972, Germany has had a higher death rate than its birth rate, meaning its population is in natural decline. However, Germany's population has rarely dropped below its 1972 figure of 78.6 million, and, in fact, peaked at 84.7 million in 2024, all due to its high net immigration rate. Over the past 75 years, the periods that saw the highest population growth rates were; the 1960s, due to the second wave of the post-WWII baby boom; the 1990s, due to post-reunification immigration; and since the 2010s, due to high arrivals of refugees from conflict zones in Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine. Does falling population = economic decline? Current projections predict that Germany's population will fall to almost 70 million by the next century. Germany's fertility rate currently sits around 1.5 births per woman, which is well below the repacement rate of 2.1 births per woman. Population aging and decline present a major challenge economies, as more resources must be invested in elderly care, while the workforce shrinks and there are fewer taxpayers contributing to social security. Countries such as Germany have introduced more generous child benefits and family friendly policies, although these are yet to prove effective in creating a cultural shift. Instead, labor shortages are being combatted via automation and immigration, however, both these solutions are met with resistance among large sections of the population and have become defining political issues of our time.

Actual value and historical data chart for Germany Population Ages 65 And Above Percent Of Total

In 1800, the region of Germany was not a single, unified nation, but a collection of decentralized, independent states, bound together as part of the Holy Roman Empire. This empire was dissolved, however, in 1806, during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras in Europe, and the German Confederation was established in 1815. Napoleonic reforms led to the abolition of serfdom, extension of voting rights to property-owners, and an overall increase in living standards. The population grew throughout the remainder of the century, as improvements in sanitation and medicine (namely, mandatory vaccination policies) saw child mortality rates fall in later decades. As Germany industrialized and the economy grew, so too did the argument for nationhood; calls for pan-Germanism (the unification of all German-speaking lands) grew more popular among the lower classes in the mid-1800s, especially following the revolutions of 1948-49. In contrast, industrialization and poor harvests also saw high unemployment in rural regions, which led to waves of mass migration, particularly to the U.S.. In 1886, the Austro-Prussian War united northern Germany under a new Confederation, while the remaining German states (excluding Austria and Switzerland) joined following the Franco-Prussian War in 1871; this established the German Empire, under the Prussian leadership of Emperor Wilhelm I and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. 1871 to 1945 - Unification to the Second World War The first decades of unification saw Germany rise to become one of Europe's strongest and most advanced nations, and challenge other world powers on an international scale, establishing colonies in Africa and the Pacific. These endeavors were cut short, however, when the Austro-Hungarian heir apparent was assassinated in Sarajevo; Germany promised a "blank check" of support for Austria's retaliation, who subsequently declared war on Serbia and set the First World War in motion. Viewed as the strongest of the Central Powers, Germany mobilized over 11 million men throughout the war, and its army fought in all theaters. As the war progressed, both the military and civilian populations grew increasingly weakened due to malnutrition, as Germany's resources became stretched. By the war's end in 1918, Germany suffered over 2 million civilian and military deaths due to conflict, and several hundred thousand more during the accompanying influenza pandemic. Mass displacement and the restructuring of Europe's borders through the Treaty of Versailles saw the population drop by several million more.

Reparations and economic mismanagement also financially crippled Germany and led to bitter indignation among many Germans in the interwar period; something that was exploited by Adolf Hitler on his rise to power. Reckless printing of money caused hyperinflation in 1923, when the currency became so worthless that basic items were priced at trillions of Marks; the introduction of the Rentenmark then stabilized the economy before the Great Depression of 1929 sent it back into dramatic decline. When Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, the Nazi government disregarded the Treaty of Versailles' restrictions and Germany rose once more to become an emerging superpower. Hitler's desire for territorial expansion into eastern Europe and the creation of an ethnically-homogenous German empire then led to the invasion of Poland in 1939, which is considered the beginning of the Second World War in Europe. Again, almost every aspect of German life contributed to the war effort, and more than 13 million men were mobilized. After six years of war, and over seven million German deaths, the Axis powers were defeated and Germany was divided into four zones administered by France, the Soviet Union, the UK, and the U.S.. Mass displacement, shifting borders, and the relocation of peoples based on ethnicity also greatly affected the population during this time. 1945 to 2020 - Partition and Reunification In the late 1940s, cold war tensions led to two distinct states emerging in Germany; the Soviet-controlled east became the communist German Democratic Republic (DDR), and the three western zones merged to form the democratic Federal Republic of Germany. Additionally, Berlin was split in a similar fashion, although its location deep inside DDR territory created series of problems and opportunities for the those on either side. Life quickly changed depending on which side of the border one lived. Within a decade, rapid economic recovery saw West Germany become western Europe's strongest economy and a key international player. In the east, living standards were much lower, although unemployment was almost non-existent; internationally, East Germany was the strongest economy in the Eastern Bloc (after the USSR), though it eventually fell behind the West by the 1970s. The restriction of movement between the two states also led to labor shortages in t...

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for Germany (SLEMPTOTLSPZSDEU) from 1991 to 2024 about employment-population ratio, Germany, population, and employment.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for Germany (SPPOP65UPTOZSDEU) from 1960 to 2024 about 65-years +, Germany, and population.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 15 to 64 Years for Germany (LFWA64TTDEQ647S) from Q1 2005 to Q2 2025 about working-age, 15 to 64 years, Germany, and population.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the data for the New Germany, MN population pyramid, which represents the New Germany population distribution across age and gender, using estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates. It lists the male and female population for each age group, along with the total population for those age groups. Higher numbers at the bottom of the table suggest population growth, whereas higher numbers at the top indicate declining birth rates. Furthermore, the dataset can be utilized to understand the youth dependency ratio, old-age dependency ratio, total dependency ratio, and potential support ratio.

Key observations

• Youth dependency ratio, which is the number of children aged 0-14 per 100 persons aged 15-64, for New Germany, MN, is 37.8.
• Old-age dependency ratio, which is the number of persons aged 65 or over per 100 persons aged 15-64, for New Germany, MN, is 8.8.
• Total dependency ratio for New Germany, MN is 46.6.
• Potential support ratio, which is the number of youth (working age population) per elderly, for New Germany, MN is 11.4.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates.

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group for the New Germany population analysis. Total expected values are 18 and are define above in the age groups section.
• Population (Male): The male population in the New Germany for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Population (Female): The female population in the New Germany for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Total Population: The total population of the New Germany for the selected age group is shown in the following column.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for New Germany Population by Age. You can refer the same here

Germany DE: Urban Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 77.765 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 77.648 % for 2022. Germany DE: Urban Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 73.315 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.765 % in 2023 and a record low of 71.384 % in 1960. Germany DE: Urban Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.;United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.;Weighted average;

Analysis unit

Persons, households, and dwellings West Germany

UNITS IDENTIFIED: - Dwellings: yes - Vacant Units: no - Households: yes - Individuals: yes - Group quarters: yes

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS: - Dwellings: Accommodations/rooms - Households: A household comprises all persons living and keeping house together. Persons keeping house alone are regarded as separate households. Persons having more than one dwelling will be allocated to a household in each dwelling. - Group quarters: All individual persons in community residences that do not keep house for themselves compose a collective household.

Universe

Total population entitled to reside in households

Kind of data

Population and Housing Census [hh/popcen]

Sampling procedure

MICRODATA SOURCE: Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt)

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): 3160224.

SAMPLE DESIGN: 5% sample of households drawn by the Federal Statistical Office. Sample method unknown

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

There are 2 forms: (1) dwelling questionnaire which contains question relating to building characteristics; and (2) personal questionnaire which contains questions about individual characteristics