Germany’s median age continues to rise, reaching 44.9 years in 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Fifty years ago, the average German was just 36.8 years old.
Yet the pace of aging differs sharply between states, creating a gap of almost six years between the youngest and oldest populations.
Saxony-Anhalt leads the ranking of oldest states
The oldest average population is found in Saxony-Anhalt, where residents have a median age of 48.3 years – 3.4 years above the national figure.
Other eastern states dominate the top of the list: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (48.1), Thuringia (47.9), Brandenburg (47.5) and Saxony (47.1) all rank among the five oldest states in Germany.
Hamburg is the youngest state
At the other end of the scale, Hamburg stands out as Germany’s youngest state.
With a median age of 42.2 years, residents of the city-state are nearly six years younger on average than those in Saxony-Anhalt.
Berlin (42.8) and Bremen (43.1) also have relatively young populations. Among larger federal states, Baden-Württemberg (44.0) and Bavaria (44.3) are the youngest.
Dependency ratio highlights east – west divide
The so-called “old-age dependency ratio” – the number of people over 65 compared with those aged 20 to 64 – further underlines the regional contrasts.
In Hamburg, there are 28.6 older residents for every 100 working-age people. In Saxony-Anhalt, the figure is 51.9, meaning roughly one retiree for every two working-age adults. Nationally, the ratio stands at 38.8.
From youngest to oldest community – in the same state
The contrast becomes even sharper at the municipal level. Germany’s youngest and oldest communities are both located in Rhineland-Palatinate. Lautzenhausen in the Rhein-Hunsrück district has an average age of just 33.7 years.
Only 90 minutes away by car, Welschenbach in Mayen-Koblenz has just 48 residents with an average age of 63.0 years – the oldest municipality in the country.
