Hesse is growing: Population is increasing despite declining birthrates!

Hesse is growing: Population is increasing despite declining birthrates!

Hesse looks back on a year of special events. Despite a falling birth rate, the population grew slightly in 2024. Immigration in particular has contributed to the positive development. In the last twelve months, around 6.28 million people lived in Hesse at the end of 2024 - an increase of 0.2 percent compared to the previous year, according to the Borken newspaper reported.

The demographic situation shows an exciting picture: While only 53,100 babies were born in 2024 - this is the lowest value since 2013 - there were 71,500 deaths. The average age at death rose to 79.3 years, and the number of deaths was also 1.1 percent above the average for the years 2018 to 2023. However, the population has not only grown due to the number of births, but also due to immigration, which brought 225,300 people to Hesse. Over two thirds of these immigrants came from abroad.

The influence of migration

What is particularly noteworthy is that more than 17,800 people from Ukraine moved to Hesse. At the same time, the number of departures was 194,600, including 7,700 who emigrated to Ukraine. The positive migration balances therefore amount to 30,700 people - a clear sign that Hesse is very popular as a place to live. This is also reflected in the friendly coexistence, where 81.6 percent of the population have a German passport and 18.4 percent have another nationality.

The largest percentage increases were in large cities such as Darmstadt, Frankfurt and Offenbach. On the other hand, some districts such as Hersfeld-Rotenburg and Odenwaldkreis recorded population declines. This makes it clear how different the situation is in the different regions.

Future developments

In the coming period, public attention will focus on the continuously updated population figures. These are calculated based on the last census, which was carried out in 2022. The recalculations of the numbers are expected to be made available in the summer of 2024, like that Hesse State Statistical Office informed.

It is hoped that the birth rate will increase in the future. The current fertility rate is an important issue to promote natural population growth. According to the forecasts, among others from German Student Union recorded, it is crucial to closely monitor the effects of migration and birth rates on the Hessian population. Last but not least, it shows that younger generations and international immigrants will play a key role in the country's future.