Germany is known for having one of the lowest birth rates in the world, but there’s a small but noticeable change happening. More kids are growing up in bigger families—those with three or more children. Even though the overall number of births is still low, this trend shows how migration and family structures are changing, which has big effects on society and government policies
A Picture of Low Birth Rates
In 2024, the birth rate in Germany dropped to 1
35 births per woman, down from 1. 38 in 2023. This continues a long-term trend, keeping the rate well below the level needed to keep the population steady, which is 2. 1 births per woman. Germany is among the EU countries with the lowest birth rates
Despite many years of support for families—including parental leave, child allowances, and subsidized childcare—the birth rate has stayed around 1.
3 to 1. 4 for a long time. Factors like economic worries, changing attitudes, people having kids later in life, and even a general sense of hesitation (“German Angst”) have made people think twice about having larger families
A Slow Rise in Big Families
Even though the overall birth rate is going down, more kids are being raised in large families.
From 2015 to 2024, the share of children living in families with three or more kids went up from 23% to 26%. A large family is defined as having at least three children
According to Destatis, the German Federal Statistical Office, immigration since 2015 is a major reason for this change
Families from migrant backgrounds are almost twice as likely to have three or more children—19% compared to 10% for non-migrant families
Looking at how many siblings kids have:
– 30% are only children
– 44% have one sibling
– 18% have two siblings
– 8% have three or more siblings
Larger families are slightly more common in western Germany, where 13% of households have three or more kids, compared to 11% in eastern Germany
Why This Matters: What’s Driving the Change
1. Migration and Population Shifts
Many immigrants come from countries where having more children is more common
These families bring their family size traditions with them, which influences the overall birth rate and household sizes in Germany
This mix of different backgrounds is already changing local communities, schools, and even neighborhoods, especially in cities with lots of immigrants
2. Compensatory Birth Timing
Although Germans with native backgrounds are still delaying childbirth—average first-time motherhood happens at age 30
4—families with migrant origins tend to have children earlier and more often. This partly balances out the effect of low birth rates among native Germans
Demographic Context: An Ageing Nation
Even with a slight increase in large families, Germany is still dealing with an aging population.
Over 50 years of fewer births than deaths means population growth is only possible through immigration
The percentage of people aged 65 or older—around 19% in 2024—is expected to go above 30% by 2050.
By mid-century, Germany might see its population decline—projected to fall between 65 and 70 million by 2060, depending on immigration levels—and face a shrinking workforce along with growing demands for pensions and care services
Social and Policy Implications
Family Policy and Childcare
Germany offers strong support for families: childcare is affordable, Kindergeld is generous, and parental leave is flexible
However, there are still not enough childcare spots and housing issues, especially in big cities, which discourages native Germans from having larger families
Migrant families, who often have children earlier, face several challenges like language barriers, job opportunities, and education, but are more likely to live in bigger households
Integration and Labor Markets
Larger families from migrant backgrounds can help fill the workforce and ease the effects of an aging population over time
Still, integrating these families into education, work, and housing is essential. Without complete social and economic support, these families might continue to face difficulties or risk poverty
Education and Infrastructure
Areas with more large households—usually in urban areas—need more schools, daycare centers, childcare services, and transportation
Demographic policies must consider these local increases in children, even if the national population is stable or falling
Family Patterns and Cultural Insights
Native German families usually have smaller families—often one or two kids—and delay having children.
In contrast, migrant communities tend to start having kids younger and live in bigger families. This creates a mix of different family patterns in Germany’s aging society
Experts point out that the overall drop in birth rates—especially among German citizens, where the rate fell to 1.
23 in 2024, the lowest since 1996—shows a cultural shift toward fewer children.
Future Outlook: Can Germany Leverage This Shift?
Can Larger Families Grow?
Although the number of large families has increased from 23% to 26%, the overall birth rate is still low.
Native Germans continue to have fewer children or no children at all, meaning the rise in large families is mainly from migrant communities
Sustained large-family trends would probably rely on ongoing immigration and integration efforts. Even though overall birth rates are slowly increasing, German women still have fewer babies than needed to replace the current population
Policy Levers
Expanding childcare options, especially for migrant and lower-income families
Creating affordable housing, especially for families with many children
Improving integration in education and work, so bigger families can do well both economically and socially
Some experts suggest more focused support for diverse families, including better information for migrant communities about schools, healthcare, language, and other helpful services
Conclusion
Germany’s small increase in large families—from 23% to 26% of kids living with three or more siblings by 2024—is meaningful, especially in a country facing long-term population decline and an aging society
However, this change, which is mostly due to migration, doesn’t solve the bigger challenges like very low birth rates, people having kids later, and a rapidly aging population
What this shift shows is that families from migrant backgrounds are becoming more important in shaping Germany’s future population
These families could be key to filling future jobs, but only if they are properly supported through good education, housing, childcare, and job opportunities
Policymakers shouldn’t see the rise of large families as just a trend
Instead, they should treat it as a sign that policies, services, and public systems need to change to match Germany’s changing culture and population