15 May 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the "Day of the Family" proclaimed by the United Nations. The BAT Foundation for Future Studies has taken this as an opportunity to conduct a representative survey of 2,000 Germans aged 14 and over on the topic of "family" in face-to-face interviews. One of the key findings is that the importance of the family remains high - for 88 per cent of Germans, the family is and remains the most important thing in life.
Despite this very high ranking, the birth rate in Germany remains low. With an average of 1.36 (100 women have 136 children), Germany remains well below the EU average of 1.57. But why do so few people decide to start a family of their own?

The core results

Germans cite three main reasons for not starting a family:

1. The wish, dear remain free and independent (62 %).
2. Almost as often Financial reasons (61 %). Many couples cannot afford to have children or do not want to change their own standard of living.
3. The desire to not to neglect your professional career (59 %), as well as the concern, Not being able to reconcile family and career (54 %), are also cited by a majority of the population.

In addition to these main reasons, the lack of a life partner, the uncertain future for the next generation and inadequate state conditions are also cited as reasons. Even the fear of choosing the wrong time or the view that children do not represent a fulfilling purpose in life are cited as arguments against starting a family.

Interpretation

The Foundation's Scientific Director, Professor Dr Ulrich Reinhardt, summarises the results as follows:
"On the one hand, many Germans are simply afraid. They are afraid of having to give up their freedom, neglecting their career or having to cut back on their standard of living. They are afraid of choosing the wrong time or the wrong partner, afraid of divorce or the future of their children.
On the other hand, the increasing lack of time also influences the decision in favour of or against having a family. Many Germans are putting themselves under pressure because they want to be successful at work, experience something in their free time, maintain their social relationships and also relax in peace. That leaves little time for children."

10 Additional information

• For Childless couples Compared to the population as a whole, two reasons are of above-average importance: being free and independent (+5 percentage points) and the fear of not catching the right time (+9 PP).
• From East Germans the lack of state requirements (+6 PP), financial reasons (+6PP) and difficulties with the work-family balance (+7 PP) are cited significantly more often than by West Germans. West German on the other hand, are more likely to express concerns about their independence (+5 PP), are less likely to see children as a fulfilling purpose in life (+9 PP) and miss the right partner (+12 PP).
• The differences between the sexes are relatively small. Women emphasise somewhat more frequently that they had the wrong time and did not have the right partner and criticise the lack of work-life balance (+3 PP each). Men on the other hand, more often question the point of having children (+2 PP) and emphasise the financial burden (+3 PP).
• Almost one in three Wealthy Germans (30 %) - with a monthly net household income of over EUR 3,500 - do not see children as a fulfilling purpose in life. This view is shared by less than one in four (23 %) of those on low incomes of less than EUR 1,500. In favour Low earners significantly more often than the wealthy (67 % to 56 %) and are more concerned about the uncertain future for future generations (47 % to 37 %).
• Within the Age groups shows that the middle generation (35 to 54 years) has the most concerns. They show an above-average level of scepticism for all statements.
• In the Time comparison to 2011 fears have increased in 8 out of 10 areas - only "lack of state conditions" (-8 PP) and "uncertain future for own children" (-6 PP) have decreased.
• In Germany there are 148 family-related measuresthat benefit parents and children. The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs states that these state family benefits 125 billion euros per year cost.
• According to the Federal Statistical Office one child in Germany on average around 550 euros per month;
• 42 per cent of all children are Only childrenonly 15 per cent have two or more siblings;
• Three quarters of all children grow up married parents The proportion of unmarried parents is three times higher in the East than in the West. Similarly, the proportion of Single parents higher in the east (25 %) than in the west (16 %).