Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Germany
Germany: Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception was 1.36 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.36 births per woman
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
183rd
of 215 countries
All-time high
2.54 births per woman
in 1964
All-time low
1.24 births per woman
in 1994
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Germany, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
Germany recorded 1.36 births per woman for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Germany peaked at 2.54 births per woman in 1964 and was at its lowest, 1.24 births per woman, in 1994.
Germany ranks 183rd of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Germany, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.37 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 2.45 births per woman | +3.4% |
| 1962 | 2.44 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 2.51 births per woman | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 2.54 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 2.5 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 1966 | 2.53 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 2.48 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 1968 | 2.38 births per woman | -4.0% |
| 1969 | 2.21 births per woman | -7.1% |
| 1970 | 2.03 births per woman | -8.1% |
| 1971 | 1.92 births per woman | -5.4% |
| 1972 | 1.71 births per woman | -10.9% |
| 1973 | 1.54 births per woman | -9.9% |
| 1974 | 1.51 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 1.45 births per woman | -4.0% |
| 1976 | 1.45 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1.4 births per woman | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 1.38 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 1.38 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1.44 births per woman | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 1.43 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 1.41 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 1.33 births per woman | -5.7% |
| 1984 | 1.29 births per woman | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 1.37 births per woman | +6.2% |
| 1986 | 1.43 births per woman | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 1.43 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.46 births per woman | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 1.42 births per woman | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 1.45 births per woman | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 1.33 births per woman | -8.3% |
| 1992 | 1.29 births per woman | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 1.28 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 1.24 births per woman | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 1.25 births per woman | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 1.3 births per woman | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 1.35 births per woman | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 1.36 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 1.36 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.38 births per woman | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 1.35 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 1.34 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 1.34 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.36 births per woman | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 1.34 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 1.33 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 1.37 births per woman | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 1.38 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 1.36 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 1.39 births per woman | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 1.39 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.41 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 1.42 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 1.47 births per woman | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 1.5 births per woman | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 1.6 births per woman | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 1.57 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 1.57 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.54 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 1.53 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 1.58 births per woman | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 1.46 births per woman | -7.9% |
| 2023 | 1.39 births per woman | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 1.36 births per woman | -2.2% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 1.36 births per woman is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 births per woman, 94% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Germany's 1.36 births per woman is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.44 births per woman, 95% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.44 births per woman | 2.21 births per woman | 2.54 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.58 births per woman | 1.38 births per woman | 2.03 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.4 births per woman | 1.29 births per woman | 1.46 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.32 births per woman | 1.24 births per woman | 1.45 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.35 births per woman | 1.33 births per woman | 1.38 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.49 births per woman | 1.39 births per woman | 1.6 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.46 births per woman | 1.36 births per woman | 1.58 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More population data for Germany
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.8968 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1409 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 78,932 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1335 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3367 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Population density 202.93 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.11 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Germany?
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Germany was 1.36 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 2.54 births per woman in 1964.
- What is the lowest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.24 births per woman in 1994.
- How does Germany rank for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception?
- Germany ranks 183rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. The unmet need for contraception shows the estimated share of married fertile women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.