Germany has recorded its lowest birth rate since 1946, according to new data released by the national statistics agency Destatis.

The agency reported that around 654,300 babies were born in 2025, down from 677,117 in 2024, representing a decline of about 3.4 percent. This marks the fourth consecutive year of falling births in the country.

Destatis also revealed that deaths significantly outnumbered births during the same period. Approximately 1.01 million deaths were recorded in 2025, resulting in a natural population decline of about 352,000, the largest birth deficit in Germany’s post-war history.

The agency attributed the trend to two main factors: the relatively small generation born in the 1990s now reaching childbearing age, and a continued decline in fertility rates since 2022. The fertility rate reflects the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime.

Germany’s ageing population continues to grow, with around 19 million people aged 65 and above in 2024, representing roughly 23 percent of the population. In comparison, only about 15 percent of Germans were over 65 in 1991.

The demographic shift has renewed pressure on policymakers, especially as concerns grow over pensions and workforce sustainability. A government-appointed pensions commission is expected to present reform proposals by June 30.

The issue has also become politically sensitive. Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently suggested that the state pension may need to be seen as a “basic provision” supplemented by other income sources, a comment that drew criticism from labour unions and coalition partners. He later clarified that there would be no immediate cuts to statutory pensions.

The latest figures underline Germany’s ongoing struggle with population ageing, a challenge shared by many developed economies across Europe and beyond.