In 2023, the number of cesarean sections in German hospitals was higher than ever before, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office.
A total of 218,000 women underwent cesarean deliveries, which accounted for 32.6% of all births that year. Over the past 30 years, the share of cesarean sections nearly doubled; in 1993, it was 16.9%.
At the same time, the number of clinics in Germany offering childbirth services has decreased. In 1993, almost half of the 2,354 hospitals in the country provided obstetric care, but by 2023, fewer than a third of the 1,874 hospitals still offered such services.
The number of cesarean sections varies significantly by region. The highest percentage of cesarean sections was recorded in Saarland (36.4%), followed by Hamburg. The lowest rate was in eastern Saxony (25.6%).
In total, about 680,000 children were born in German hospitals in 2023. Over 60% of women gave birth naturally, 6.5% used vacuum extraction, and 0.2% had assisted deliveries with forceps.
