Germany now has the world’s second oldest population, trailing behind only Japan.
The average age in Germany has shot up to 44.1 years by 2013, according to the Federal Institute for Population Research.
But the trend is not evenly distributed around the Federal Republic and huge regional differences exist.
Rural parts of the former East Germany in particular have an average age closer to 50.
With reunification, many younger people moved west. While these was some movement of people from the west moving east, it was no where near the scale witnessed in the opposite direction.
The east has continues 25 years later to lag behind the west in economic development so there are fewer job opportunities to attract younger workers.
By 2030 some experts forecast that populations in some of the eastern pockets could reach the average age of 60.
This will put enormous strain on trying to meet health and social needs in economically deprived areas.
Local infrastructure is funded by community taxes but there will be more call on that revenue by a predominately retired population.
Although the bright lights of the west still beckon and cities have lower average ages, expectations are that the number of people over the age of 80 here to will increase.
