Does Germany have big or small families?

In Germany, the average household size has been decreasing for decades. In 1950, the average household size was 3.57 persons. By 2021, it had dropped to 2.12 persons. The decline in household size is due to several factors, including:

- Fewer children per family. In 2021, the average number of children per woman in Germany was 1.59, down from 2.5 in 1960. This decline in fertility is due to several factors, including the increasing cost of raising children, the greater opportunities for women in the labor force, and the changing social norms around family size.

- More single-person households. The proportion of single-person households in Germany has been increasing steadily for several decades. In 1961, only 21.5% of German households were single-person households. By 2021, that number had risen to 40.7%. The increase in single-person households is due to several factors, including the rising number of elderly people living alone, the increasing number of people who are delaying marriage, and the increasing number of people who are choosing not to have children.

Overall, Germany's households have become smaller and more diverse over time. These trends are expected to continue in the future.