Social scientists at the Hamburg-based Foundation for Future Studies (BAT) asked people why they thought their fellow Germans were choosing not to start a family. Sixty seven percent said that they thought the main reason was cost.

This figure had risen considerably since 2011, when 58 percent cited money as a likely contraceptive force. “The financial aspect is moving ever further forward,” said BAT head Ulrich Rheinhardt.

Another common reason came from the 54 percent who said they thought people were put off by the fear of not being able to mix parenthood and a career. In 2011, 48 percent thought this was the case.

“The uncertainty, or fear, even, of starting a family has a lot of Germans its grasp,” said Rheinhardt.

Half of the 2,000 people asked said that a lack of state help was deterring people – particularly that there was not enough day care places.

Fewer than 40 percent said they thought that not meeting the right person was behind the dry spell.

DPA/The Local/jcw