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

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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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 180 Cyprus 1.38 births per woman compare
  2. 181 Bahamas 1.37 births per woman compare
  3. 183 Czechia 1.36 births per woman compare
  4. 185 Jamaica 1.35 births per woman compare
  5. 186 Albania 1.34 births per woman compare

See the full ranking of 215 places →

More population data for Germany

All data for Germany →

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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception
Unit
births per woman
Source
United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
215 places, 13,943 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

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.