German births fall to record low but immigration surges

The number of babies born in Germany sank to a record low in 2011, official statistics showed Monday, but a surge in immigration to Europe's top economy led its population to grow.

Last year around 663,000 children were born in Germany, down 2.2 percent from 2010, according to preliminary data released by the federal statistics office Destatis.

It was the lowest number recorded in Germany since 1946 and around half as many babies as were born in West and East Germany in 1964, at the height of the post-war baby boom.

In 2011 around 852,000 people died in Germany, 0.7 percent fewer than the previous year.

"As in all years since 1972, more people died than children were born," Destatis said in a statement. "In 2011 the difference reached about 190,000 in 2010 and 181,000 in 2010." (...)