Cultural Norms in Countries of Origin Impact Fertility of Immigrants in Germany

Immigrants in Germany tend to have more children than native Germans. The higher fertility stems not only from socio-economic differences, but is also influenced by cultural factors. This finding applies to first-generation immigrants and, albeit to a lesser extent, also to the second generation of immigrants living in Germany. This is the result of a study carried out by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim.

Using a methodological approach which allows us to distinguish between cultural and institutional factors, the ZEW study investigates the impact of cultural norms on fertility behaviour. As a proxy for cultural norms the study draws on information about birth-rates and fertility norms in the countries of origin as well as on data from the 2008 wave of the German microcensus. The data from this wave also allows for the identification of naturalised immigrants. In total, the study gathered information on more than 4,500 female immigrants from 18 different countries of origin.

The ZEW study distinguishes among three generations of immigrants. The women of the first generation were born abroad and migrated to Germany at the age between 15 and 18. The women of "generation 1.5" were also born abroad but were younger than 15 at the time of migration. The second-generation migrants were born in Germany as foreign or as German citizens and have at least one parent who immigrated.

The analysis shows that the fertility norms in the countries of origin influence individual fertility choices, even if women spend their fertile years in Germany.

 The effect is strongest for the first generation, becomes weaker for "generation 1.5", and declines further in the second generation; a statistically significant impact, however, remains. The effect of cultural norms is particularly pronounced for first-generation and "generation 1.5" immigrants with a partner from the same country of origin, as well as among those immigrants of the second generation whose parents migrated from the same country of origin.

"The results show clearly that the cultural background passed on by the parents as well as the Germany society have influence on fertility decisions," says Dr. Holger Stichnoth, researcher at ZEW and responsible for the study. “With respect to the debate about immigration in Germany, the results show that cultural norms indeed have an impact; however, there is clear tendency to adapt to the fertility behaviour of the host country over time. Fears of being 'swamped' by immigrants due to their higher fertility are hence completely unfounded. At the same time, the results of the study also indicate that immigration alone is no lasting remedy to the low fertility-rates in Germany."

For further information please contact

Dr. Holger Stichnoth, Phone +49 621/1235-362, E-mail stichnoth@zew.de