Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

FAMILY

‘Multiple crises’: Why fewer babies are being born in Germany

The birth rate in Germany has fallen significantly over the past two years, according to a study published on Wednesday.

Published: 20 March 2024 13:55 CET
'Multiple crises': Why fewer babies are being born in Germany
File photo of a newborn baby. Photo: Christine Olsson/TT

The birth rate has fallen from 1.57 children per woman in 2021 to around 1.36 in the autumn of 2023. 

This means that the fertility level is the lowest it has been since 2009, according to figures from a joint publication by the Federal Institute and Stockholm University in the European Journal of Population. 

Decline was ‘unusually’ rapid

The birth rate in Germany initially remained stable and even went up slightly during the Covid pandemic. 

In 2021, the highest birth rate since 1997 was registered with 795,492 babies, a phenomenon which many in Germany dubbed “corona babies” since they were conceived and born amid the pandemic.

But the figure then fell to 1.4 from January 2022 as the crisis continued and then recovered at 1.5 children per woman in the summer of 2022. The birth rate then fell again in 2023 and, according to initial estimates, averaged 1.36 from January to November.

READ ALSO: Germany records lowest number of babies born in a decade

“The sharp decline in fertility observed within two years is therefore unusual, as phases of falling birth rates have tended to be slower in the past,” the researchers said. 

There could be various reasons for the decline: According to the study, the abrupt drop in numbers may have to do with the start of the Covid vaccination campaign nine months earlier. 

It’s possible  that many women postponed having children because the vaccines were not approved for pregnant women at the time in order to get vaccinated first, said the researchers.

But why did the number of births fall from autumn 2022, when the vaccine was widely available to everyone in Germany?

“In addition to the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation and advancing climate change have made people feel insecure,” said co-author Martin Bujard.

“In such a time of multiple crises, many do not carry out their desire to have children.” 

Part of a larger trend?

Whether the current figures herald a general trend towards falling birth rates in Germany or merely reflect a temporary effect is not yet foreseeable, said the researchers.

The birth rate in Germany fluctuated between 1.2 and 1.4 children per woman for four decades after 1975 and was among the lowest in Europe for a long time, according to the institute. 

From 2015 to 2021, it was then significantly higher with 1.5 to 1.6 children per woman.

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about having a baby in Germany

Member comments

  1. Every thing is more expensive. Rent is higher, bills are higher, food is more expensive, our Kita in 2017 was $360 for the month, now in 2024 it is $550 for one child for the month. It’s unaffordable to live in Germany these days. The Eltern Geld is $1800 a month, when you have to pay for at $500 Kita, diapers, appointments, rent & bills, you start to live paycheck to paycheck or just make sacrifices…

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

LEARNING GERMAN

‘Forget about bilingual Kitas’: Key tips for raising bilingual kids in Germany

With greater numbers of international workers choosing to settle in Germany and raise a family, the question of how to best raise bilingual children is often considered. 

Published: 25 April 2024 15:01 CEST
Updated: 28 April 2024 08:35 CEST
'Forget about bilingual Kitas': Key tips for raising bilingual kids in Germany

The Local asked its readers who have raised bilingual children in Germany to tell us how they managed to raise children who speak German in addition to their parent’s mother tongue. 

Trust the (school) system. 

One piece of advice was echoed by several readers: Trust the German education system to take care of teaching German through immersion. 

Siniša, 44, from Hesse, who speaks Croatian and English at home, told The Local: “Speak your native language at home. The school will ‘cover’ German and other languages.”

Steve, 55, who lives in Munich and speaks English and Spanish with his daughter agrees.

“Be consistent and raise your child in your native tongue. At a local school, they will learn German quickly,” he said.

Chris, 44, from Hamburg, who speaks English with his children, backed the idea of leaving kids’ schools to take charge of teaching them German.

“Get the kids into the German education system as early as possible and let them learn themselves from native speakers. As a bonus, they’ll pick it up quickly and not pick up a ‘non-German’ accent either,” he said.

Read more: ‘Multilingualism is an enrichment’ – The challenges of raisin bilingual kids in Germany

Readers also noted that even in the preschool stage, children can handle multiple languages. 

Julie, 41, who lives in Hamburg and speaks English and Italian at home, said: “Relax and go with the flow. Don’t get hung up on finding bilingual Kitas for toddlers if they already get significant exposure to the non-German language at home. Languages seem to develop in different spurts at different speeds.”

However, liaising with schools in Germany was noted as an essential skill. 

Kim, 46, based in Sindelfingen, with a family speaking both English and German, said: “It’s essential for at least one parent to understand German when children attend a German school. They can help explain language and cultural differences. They can also help with administrative matters and even homework.”

Maintain the mother tongue.

While readers were keen to encourage parents to trust the immersion process that German schools provide, they were also quick to advise a concerted effort to maintain speaking the mother tongue in and around the home. 

“For international parents, I think it’s very important that their children do not lose touch with their mother tongue, as it is a very special part of their identity,” said Prashanth, 42, who lives in Munich.

Anne-Marie, 52, from Frankfurt, who speaks ‘Singlish’ (Singaporean English) with her children, stated that it’s essential to be firm.

“Speak in your mother tongue to your kids from the day they are born. Be consequent about it, even in front of other people who do not speak your mother tongue,” she said.

Karl, 44, who lives in Celle and who speaks English and the indigenous American Ute language with his children, said getting family on board is important. 

“Communicate with all family members your decision, intentionally speak all of the languages, when possible provide translations so family members present are not excluded from conversations,” he said.

Charles, 40, from Berlin, even stated that speaking German at home may prove detrimental: “Don’t speak your own mediocre German with them. It may be hard to see them speaking another language as their more comfortable primary language than your own.”

Charles, who speaks English at home, added: “Find books and shows to share with them in your native language to continue the shared experience.”

Read More: What foreign parents should know about German schools

Just let it happen with the kids…

Sometimes, it seems, becoming bilingual takes care of itself. 

Paul, 40, from Munich, married to a German, said: “Our oldest just started speaking English one day around age 3. She had heard so much she could understand and just started talking. 

“The twins are starting to speak more and more English. It wasn’t a problem since she was fluent in both by age 4. I advise patience and not expecting perfection at a young age.

Crystal, 38, who lives in Nuremberg and speaks English at home, responded: “At first, my main concern was getting as much German into our lives as possible so my son would be ready for Grundschule. 

“Now I’m swinging the other way. My advice is to try to relax. There are always other things to worry about, and kids learn so much really quickly.”

…but also challenge yourself

Finally, respondents to The Locals’ survey repeated that raising bilingual children is something that requires a degree of effort – on the parent’s behalf. 

J.K, 40, who lives in Hanau and speaks English and Telugu at home, told The Local: “Language is very important for the kids to grow in a culture. 

“Parents should facilitate situations around the kid to better integrate locally. Parents (at least one) should be able to speak German at a level better than B1. 

“If not, supporting kids in their education is difficult, and this will hamper their chances of reaching a higher education level.”

Read More: Six surprising facts about Germany’s school system

Moreno, 40, who lives in Munich and speaks Portuguese with his children, was firm in his advice: “Don’t choose the easy way for you, parents. Don’t hide in your language community bubble. 

“If you intend to live in Germany for a long time, put your kids in German schools and get them in touch with the German community.

“If you don’t speak German like me, deal with it. But don’t transfer your problem to your kids.”

Have we missed any crucial advice for raising bilingual children in Germany? Tell us in the comments section below.

SHOW COMMENTS