2008: More deaths and marriages, slightly fewer births
WIESBADEN – As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on the basis of provisional results, the number of live births in Germany in 2008 (675,000 children) was slightly down by 1.1% on the previous year (683,000). The provisional annual result is below the estimate of about 680,000 to 690,000 births, which had been calculated by Destatis at the beginning of this year on the basis of data available at the time (press release of 7 January 2009). The reason is the slower development of births in the last few months of 2008, which can be observed now.
As regards deaths, an increase by 20,000 cases or 2.4% to 844,000 was recorded for 2008. Hence, the number of children born in 2008 was by 168,000 smaller than the number of persons who died. In 2007 the balance of live births and deaths was –141,000 according to provisional data.
In 2008, 375,000 couples married, while in the previous year the number was 368,000. This means that the number of marriages increased by 7,000 or 1.8% in the period examined.
Regarding the final annual result for 2008, insignificant changes may still occur because the provisional result does not yet contain all data reported.
For further information please call: Martin Conrad, tel: (+49-611) 75-2358,
