- Decrease in Birth Rates Observed in Lower Saxony
Decrease in Birth Rates: According to recent data from the State Office of Statistics, the number of live births in Lower Saxony decrease in 2023. A total of 67,162 babies entered the world, which is a 5.8% decrease compared to 2022, when 71,289 births were recorded.
The average maternal age at childbirth remained constant at 31 years and 4 months in 2023, identical to the previous year. Approximately 45% of mothers were giving birth for the first time. 3.2% of the newborns were twins or triplets.
Bremen remains the only region with a higher birth rate per woman
The total fertility rate in Lower Saxony in 2023 dropped by 0.1 to 1.42 children. This figure is a crucial tool for statisticians in understanding fertility patterns and represents the average number of children a woman would have throughout her life if her fertility rates mirrored those of all women aged 15-49 in that year. Only Bremen surpassed this rate, with a total fertility rate of 1.46.
Examining the state's regions, the city of Salzgitter had the highest total fertility rate at 1.82, followed by the Cloppenburg district (1.68). On the other hand, the city of Oldenburg had the lowest rate at 1.11, followed closely by Brunswick, Osnabrück, and the state capital Hannover, each with a rate of 1.17.
Despite the decreasing birth rates, children continue to make up a significant portion of the population, with 45% of mothers giving birth for the first time in 2023. The lower birth rate may impact the future workforce and dependency ratio in Lower Saxony.
