Overview

• Germany’s fertility rate fell to 1.35 children per woman in 2024, far below the 2.1 replacement level
• Eastern states record the lowest birth rates nationwide, prompting some kindergartens to advertise for enrolment as child numbers dwindle
• Net migration has been the sole factor sustaining Germany’s population growth despite persistently low birth numbers
• Countries including South Korea (0.72), Canada (1.26) and Brazil (1.62) have fertility rates below replacement according to 2023 figures
• South Korea has closed 50 schools this year because of shrinking student cohorts, foreshadowing challenges for low-fertility societies