The statisticians announce: More people die in Germany than children are born. Nevertheless, the number of inhabitants is increasing, especially in some areas. There is a reason for this.
According to preliminary data, more than 84 million people live in Germany for the first time. In the first half of 2022, the number grew by 843,000 or one percent, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden. For comparison: In the whole of 2021, the population had increased by only 82,000 people or 0.1 percent.
“The decisive factor for the current development is the influx of refugees from Ukraine as a result of the Russian war of aggression,” the statisticians explained. According to the information, there was a net immigration of around 750,000 Ukrainians to Germany in the first half of the year. Overall, net immigration was around one million people. It was seven times higher than in the first half of 2021, it said.
At the same time, according to the data, there were more deaths than births, which had a dampening effect on population growth: in the first six months of this year, 161,000 more people died than were born. Overall, the number of inhabitants had increased in all federal states, but with regional differences: the highest increases were in Berlin (plus 1.3 percent) as well as Bavaria and Hesse (both plus 1.2 percent). In contrast, the lowest increases were recorded in Bremen (plus 0.5 percent), Thuringia (plus 0.6 percent) and Saarland (plus 0.7 percent).
According to the Federal Office, the population figures were calculated on the basis of the 2011 census. As soon as the results of the 2022 census are published at the end of 2023 with a cut-off date of May 15, this should be the new basis for calculation. This could possibly correct the population down to less than 84 million. However, the increase in population in the first half of 2022 will not be affected, it said.
