BERLIN, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Young people aged 15 to 24 make up just 10 percent of Germany's population, a historically low and stagnant figure that is adding pressure to the country's labor market and social systems.
The Federal Statistical Office said Tuesday that the proportion, around 8.3 million people at the end of 2024, has remained almost unchanged since late 2021. Officials said the figure would have fallen further without the immigration of young people following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
According to the 2024 microcensus, just 8.6 percent of the native population in Germany belonged to the 15-24 age group. Meanwhile, among descendants of immigrants, defined as individuals born in Germany and whose parents both immigrated, the proportion was significantly higher at 20.7 percent.
Germany's low youth population reflects a broader demographic trend. According to global data platform Statista, low birth rates and rising life expectancy are leading to a growing imbalance in Germany: as the baby boomer generation enters retirement, the number of elderly citizens rises while the share of working-age residents declines.
Statista said this demographic shift is placing mounting pressure on Germany's pension and long-term care systems and is already affecting the labor market.
"The skilled labor shortage remains a major challenge for Germany as a business location," said Andrea Nahles, chairwoman of the Federal Employment Agency.
In May, the Federal Employment Agency reported labor shortages in roughly one out of every eight professions in Germany.
