Germany’s youth population remains at a historic low, according to new figures from the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis), highlighting a long-term demographic shift that is reshaping the country’s age profile.
At the end of 2025, around 8.3 million people in Germany were aged between 15 and 24, accounting for around 10 percent of the population.
By comparison, in 1983, when the baby boom generation was in its teenage years, young people made up 16.7 percent of the population, or roughly one in six residents.
The figures also illustrate how Germany's younger generations are increasingly shaped by migration as the country's population grows older.
Migration keeps Germany younger
Without immigrants and their descendants, Germany's youth population would be notably smaller.
In 2025, only 8.5 percent of people without a migration background were aged 15 to 24. But among people with a migration background, the figure was 12.2 percent.
And that figure rose to 20.4 percent of 15 to 24-year-olds with two immigrant parents.
The figures make it clear why Germany continues to compete for international talent, despite its toughening political debate around migration.
Regional differences
The new data reveals significant regional differences.
Bremen had the highest proportion of young people in 2025 at 11.1 percent, followed by Hamburg (10.5 percent) and Baden-Württemberg (10.4 percent).
At the other end of the scale were Brandenburg (8.8 percent), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt (both 9.1 percent).
In all, four of the five states with the lowest proportions of young people are in the former East Germany.
International comparisons
Germany's present youth share is not only historically low, it’s also below the EU average.
While 10 percent of Germany's population was aged between 15 and 24 at the start of 2025, the corresponding EU average stood at 10.7 percent.
Ireland recorded the highest share of young people in the bloc at 12.7 percent, ahead of Denmark and the Netherlands on 12.2 percent each.
