Germany's population is projected to grow by 0.6% by 2040, with significant regional disparities.

Western states like Baden-Württemberg and Berlin are expected to see population growth, while eastern states such as Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt are forecast to decline.

Demographic shifts are driven by low birth rates and migration patterns, raising concerns about skilled worker shortages and social system strains.

The 2015 influx of refugees from Syria and Ukraine has influenced population forecasts, altering age distribution and median age.

The Bertelsmann Stiftung urges the adoption of targeted strategies and infrastructure improvements to manage the aging population and subsequent potential decline post-2041.

A Europe-wide low birth rate trend, exacerbated by factors like the pandemic and conflicts, threatens to strain the retirement system and necessitate migration to maintain population levels.