Over 11,000 births recorded in Hamburg between January and June 2025 - Approximately 11,000 newborns in Hamburg during the first half of 2025
In the bustling city of Hamburg, Germany, the birth rate trend has been on a downward trajectory since 2019, but the latest statistics reveal that the numbers remain high. According to the social services department, a total of 10,784 children were born in the first half of 2025, marking a decrease of 427 births compared to the same period in the previous year.
The highest number of births was recorded at the Catholic Marienkrankenhaus, with 1,561 births, followed closely by the Asklepios Clinic Altona with 1,467 births, and the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf in third place with 1,455 births. These three hospitals accounted for the majority of births in the city during the first half of the year.
Interestingly, the mean age of mothers at first birth in Hamburg is 31.5 years, which is above the national average of 30.4 years for Germany. This trend suggests a slightly older demographic of first-time mothers in the city.
Despite the decline in birth rates, Hamburg has experienced a population increase in recent years, primarily due to immigration. With its population growth rate at about 0.6% at the end of 2024, Hamburg ranks among the German states with higher population growth rates, reflecting a trend of population growth in wealthier areas like Hamburg.
Hamburg is home to several well-established maternity centres, including the Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Asklepios Kliniken Hamburg, and the Evangelisches Krankenhaus Alsterdorf. These hospitals offer a range of birth options, from natural birth to high-risk pregnancy care, given Hamburg's urban and well-resourced health system.
It is worth noting, however, that births in birth centers accounted for a small percentage of the total number of births in the first half of 2025.
As more data becomes available, we will continue to monitor the birth rate trends in Hamburg and how they compare to other German states. For now, it is clear that Hamburg's birth rate remains relatively high, despite the decline, and the city's healthcare infrastructure continues to support its growing population.
[1] German Federal Statistical Office. (2023). Fertility in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Familien/Fertilitaet.html
[2] Statistisches Landesamt Hamburg. (2024). Population Growth in Hamburg. Retrieved from https://www.statistik-hamburg.de/DE/Themen/Bevoelkerung/Gesamtbevoelkerung/Gesamtbevoelkerung-node.html
[3] Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend. (2023). Fertility Rates in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/themen/familie/familienpolitik/familienpolitik-node.html
[4] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2023). Total Fertility Rate in Germany. Retrieved from https://population.un.org/wpp/DataQuery/
[5] Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf. (n.d.). Obstetrics and Neonatology. Retrieved from https://www.uke.de/en/departments/obstetrics-neonatology/
[6] Asklepios Kliniken Hamburg. (n.d.). Maternity Wards. Retrieved from https://www.asklepios-kliniken.de/de/kliniken/asklepios-klinikum-altona/abteilungen/materni-klinik/
[7] Evangelisches Krankenhaus Alsterdorf. (n.d.). Obstetrics. Retrieved from https://www.alsterklinik.de/de/kliniken/evangelisches-krankenhaus-alsterdorf/abteilungen/geburtshilfe/
- To support the health-and-wellness of new families in Hamburg, community policy should focus on providing resources for parenting education and nutrition, ensuring a healthy start for the city's growing number of children.
- With a higher mean age of mothers at first birth compared to the national average, Hamburg's employment policy might consider accommodating flexible work arrangements for working mothers to promote family-health and work-life balance.
- As science continues to evolve, the fitness-and-exercise policies in the city's healthcare infrastructure could incorporate the latest research on prenatal and postnatal fitness to improve the overall well-being of women and their newborns.
