Researchers said they have noticed a particularly sharp downward trend in eastern Germany. A new report estimates almost 80,000 fewer children were born in 2022 and 2023 than would have been expected.

The Ifo Institute for Economic Research said in a new report released Wednesday that Germany is seeing a sharp decline in birth rates, with federal states in the east of the country the most affected.

Researchers at the leading economic think tank cited a number of reasons behind the declining birth rate, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Additionally, high inflation has prompted “young families to put off having children for the time being,” said Ifo researcher Joachim Ragnitz.

  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    13·
    20 days ago

    The birth rate, or the average number of children that are born to a woman over her lifetime, has dropped from 1.58 children per woman in 2021 to 1.35 currently.

    In the years from 2011 to 2016, Germany’s fertility rate rose from 1.39 to 1.59 due in part to better overall conditions for families with children as well as the arrival of immigrant families with higher fertility rates.

    So, basically, all the recovery since 2011 has been lost.

    • gaiussabinus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      20 days ago

      No global recovery from 2008. A case could be made for no recovery from the .com bust but that’s a bit more nebulous. We have not returned to the 08 baseline.