Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did the population of the German Empire change between 1871 and 1914?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Map showing the German Empire as it existed from 1871 to 1918, with its borders outlined and regions color-coded. The map highlights the Kingdom of Prussia in green and the full extent of the German Empire in yellow, including regions such as Bavaria, Saxony, Westphalia, and East Prussia. Neighboring countries like France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria-Hungary, and the Russian Empire are also labeled. Major cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg are marked. — German Empire The German Empire, 1871–1918.

Between 1871 and 1914, the population of the German Empire experienced significant growth, increasing from more than 41 million at its founding to 67 million by 1914.12

This demographic expansion was accompanied by a major shift in where people lived. At the time of unification in 1871, approximately 67 percent of the population resided in rural areas. By 1910, that figure had dropped to 40 percent as the nation underwent rapid industrialization. Consequently, the urban industrial sector became the primary focus of the population; by 1914, cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants accounted for one-fifth of the total population, compared to only one-twentieth at the empire's inception.123

This internal migration was supported by a sharp decline in emigration, as the growing factories in centers like Berlin and the Ruhr provided new employment opportunities for the surplus population. These demographic trends contributed to a sense of national strength, though they also fostered feelings of vulnerability regarding the nation's position among other European powers.34