Germany's population keeps on declining: another 'city' gone

Wiesbaden, Germany - Germany's population declined by about a quarter of a million people in 2009, the equivalent of the population of a mid-sized city, as births again failed to keep up with deaths, statisticians said Thursday. Since 1972, Germany's birth rate has been too low to replace the number of people dying. On top of that, more people moved out of Germany than immigrated. Net emigration last year was estimated at 20,000 to 70,000 people.

The numbers, compiled by statisticians using vital data and border records, mean Germany's population fell from more than 82 million in 2008 to somewhere between 81.7 and 81.8 million in 2009.

Politicians have worried for years about how to encourage more births.

Last year, between 645,000 and 660,000 children were born in German hospitals and between 830,000 and 840,000 people died in Germany. The numbers include both German citizens and resident aliens.

Experts predict that if nothing changes, Germany's population 50 years from now will be down to 65 million.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/305065,germanys-population-keeps-on-declining-another-city-gone.html.