Share of births outside marriage in Germany
Germany: Share of births outside marriage was 33.08 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
33.08
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
30th
of 43 countries
All-time high
35.5
in 2016
All-time low
5.7
in 1966
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Share of births outside marriage in Germany, 1960–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, share of births outside marriage in Germany stood at 33.08.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births outside marriage in Germany peaked at 35.5 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 5.7, in 1966.
Germany ranks 30th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of births outside marriage in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.6 | — |
| 1961 | 7.1 | -6.6% |
| 1962 | 6.6 | -7.0% |
| 1963 | 6.1 | -7.6% |
| 1964 | 5.9 | -3.3% |
| 1965 | 5.8 | -1.7% |
| 1966 | 5.7 | -1.7% |
| 1967 | 5.8 | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 6.1 | +5.2% |
| 1969 | 6.6 | +8.2% |
| 1970 | 7.2 | +9.1% |
| 1971 | 8 | +11.1% |
| 1972 | 8.3 | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 8.3 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 8.5 | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 8.5 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 8.8 | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 9 | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 9.9 | +10.0% |
| 1979 | 10.7 | +8.1% |
| 1980 | 11.9 | +11.2% |
| 1981 | 12.8 | +7.6% |
| 1982 | 14.3 | +11.7% |
| 1983 | 15.4 | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 15.9 | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 16.2 | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 16.1 | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 15.7 | -2.5% |
| 1988 | 15.7 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 15.5 | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 15.3 | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 15.1 | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 14.9 | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 14.8 | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 15.4 | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 16.1 | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 17 | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 18 | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 20 | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 22.1 | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 23.4 | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 25 | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 26.1 | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 27 | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 27.9 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 29.2 | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 30 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 30.8 | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 32.1 | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 32.7 | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 33.3 | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 33.9 | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 34.5 | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 34.8 | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 35 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 35 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 35.5 | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 34.7 | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 33.9 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 33.3 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 33.1 | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 32.78 | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 33.55 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 33.08 | -1.4% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 33.08 is below the median for high income countries, which is 40.23, 82% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Germany's 33.08 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 41.64, 79% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.33 | 5.7 | 7.6 | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.72 | 7.2 | 10.7 | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.95 | 11.9 | 16.2 | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.87 | 14.8 | 22.1 | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.42 | 23.4 | 32.7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.39 | 33.3 | 35.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.13 | 32.78 | 33.55 | 4 |
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)
- Population growth rate -0.049 (2100)
- Population density 202.93 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.11 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of births outside marriage in Germany?
- Share of births outside marriage in Germany was 33.08 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births outside marriage recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 35.5 in 2016.
- What is the lowest share of births outside marriage recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.7 in 1966.
- How does Germany rank for share of births outside marriage?
- Germany ranks 30th out of 43 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of births outside marriage rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of births outside marriage. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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