Thuringia experiences a decline in male population. - Thuringia Falters in its Male Population
In Thuringia, a declining male populace has dwindled the number of individuals celebrating Father's Day or Men's Day on Ascension Day compared to a decade prior. According to statistics from the State Statistical Office, the male population in the Free State has shrunk by the equivalent of a small town between 2014 and 2024. Last year, there were 891,000 men in Thuringia, 28,000 fewer than in 2014 (919,000). The figures encompass the age group starting at 15 years.
The number of fathers cohabiting with at least one minor or adult child also reduced by 3,000 individuals or 1.5% to 221,000 over this period. Among them, 163,000 are fathers of minor children, a figure that increased by 4.9% or 8,000 fathers during the reviewed period. Statisticians attribute this growth to the baby boom between 2015 and 2017, during which approximately 17,000 children were born annually in Thuringia, compared to around 11,800 in 2024.
In 2024, half of the fathers were between 35 and 49 years old, with one-third falling between 50 and 64. A tenth were between 15 and 34 years old, and the proportion of fathers aged 65 and over was the lowest at 7.8%. Other findings reveal that in 2024, 561,000 Thuringian men had no children, and 109,000 had at least one parent residing with them.
The statisticians based their analysis on data from the Microcensus, an annual representative household survey in which around 1% of the population is questioned. In the Microcensus, a father is defined as any male residing with at least one child in the household.
The declining male populace in Thuringia might be attributed to various factors, including demographic shifts, migration patterns, and economic influences. These elements can have notable impacts on family structures and population growth, potentially reducing the number of fathers and children in the region.
In light of the declining male population in Thuringia, it would be prudent for the community to address this issue in their employment policy, specifically targeting sectors that may attract more men, such as science and health-and-wellness. Additionally, as family structures evolve, implementing supportive family-health and parenting policies could help balance the work-life responsibilities of fathers, thereby encouraging more men to stay and raise their families in Thuringia.
