Germany and its approximately 81 million inhabitants exemplify the demographic trends experienced by many developed countries. Populations are stagnant and beginning to decline, which would lead to a smaller workforce and a shift in age distribution as the number of older adults increases. In the case of Germany, the decline is relatively small, but it raises the question of how to ensure the future stability of the population. The causes of the decline may be linked to Germany's economic development and its social consequences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe German population is aging; the average age is around forty-six. According to the CIA World Factbook, there is now a larger percentage of Germans in the 45-49 and 50-54 age groups and there are fewer people in the younger groups. This heavier age structure is indicative of a declining population, and as of 2014, Germany's has slowly shrunk at a rate of -0.18%. Even with an average infant mortality rate of 3.46 deaths per 1,000 births – among the lowest in the world – there are simply not enough births to replace the existing population. Despite the low birth rate, the decline has been slow due to the net migration rate of 1.06 migrants per 1,000 inhabitants. The rate of migration has decreased over the last decade, but is expected to increase gradually in the coming years. Most migrants who entered the country in 2013 came from other European Union member states. As for the number of German citizens emigrating, the majority remained in the EU, but at least six thousand chose to move to the United States. Illegal immigration from Germany to the United States is negligible. Germany boasts the largest economy in Europe and has had a strong history of economic development. Its GDP (gross domestic product), estimated at more than $3.2 trillion (USD), is the fifth highest in the world. Women in Germany have also benefited from developments in the equality and women's rights movements. The German women's rights movement paralleled the plight of American women in some ways. Both gained the right to vote at the beginning of the 20th century and both were strengthened by the responsibilities of the time and the post-war period. Today, German women occupy a social position alongside men, with a female chancellor serving as further evidence. The success of both the German economy and its equality movements have posed challenges to supporting its population and economic well-being. Germany's total fertility rate is 1.4 births per woman, below the replacement level, and the crude birth rate is 8 per 1,000 inhabitants, below the death rate. The increased ability to get an education and find your own career has made marriage and raising children less of a priority for many women. Therefore, the average age of first birth for women is relatively old, around thirty. The increased prevalence of contraception and family planning services plays a similar role in decreasing fertility: approximately 66.2% of German couples practice some form of contraception. The common line of thought among many Germans considering family is that juggling work and children leads to neglect of one or the other. Therefore, families remain small. In an attempt to combat the negative fertility trend, the German government has implemented a series of reforms and laws. These include childcare subsidies and maternity and paternity leave.