Number of people over 100 years old in Germany on the rise

By the end of 2024, around 17,900 people aged 100 or older were living in Germany. This represents an increase of nearly a quarter (+24.0%) compared to 2011, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on the International Day of Older Persons, October 1. At that time, there were just over 14,400 centenarians in the country.

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The vast majority of those aged 100 and above are women: by the end of 2024, their share was 83.8%, slightly lower than in 2011, when it stood at 87.0%. Life expectancy has increased significantly over the long term, with women generally living longer than men. The proportion of the 100-plus age group within the total population has also grown. In 2011, there were 1.8 centenarians per 10,000 inhabitants, rising to 2.1 per 10,000 by 2024.

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Regional differences are evident in both the number and proportion of centenarians. At the end of 2024, the highest numbers were found in the populous states of North Rhine-Westphalia (3,900), Bavaria (2,400), and Baden-Württemberg (2,300). When considering the share of centenarians relative to the total population, Hamburg had the highest proportion, with 2.9 centenarians per 10,000 inhabitants. Saxony (2.6) and Saarland (2.5) also showed relatively high proportions, while Bavaria (1.8), Bremen (1.9), and Brandenburg (2.0) had the lowest.

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Globally, the number and proportion of centenarians are also rising, though at a lower level than in Germany. In 2011, there were 0.4 centenarians per 10,000 people worldwide, increasing to 0.7 per 10,000 by 2024, according to projections from the United Nations (UN World Population Prospects). In total, more than half a million people (587,000) were at least 100 years old globally in 2024, with women making up four-fifths (81%) of this group. In 2011, the corresponding figure was 303,000.

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The countries with the largest number of centenarians in 2024 were Japan (121,000), the United States (70,000), and China (43,000).

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