Empirical data on persons of German ethnic origin migrating to Germany from the former Soviet Union are used to calculate their relative fertility levels before and after arriving in their new host country. Despite small numbers in the survey, a suitable method was used to effectively compare fertility before and after crossing the border with an index measure of national fertility rates. A relatively strong fertility decline was observed for German origin migrants (Aussiedler) from the former Soviet Union during their first years in Germany. More interesting, we consider, is how and to what extent the change in living conditions affected reproductive behaviour after arrival in Germany. Surprisingly, the fertility of this former high-fertility population fell to a level much lower than the already low German fertility. The extraordinarily high fertility levels of certain religious groups within the former Soviet Union fell even more rapidly after arrival in their new home country. The results of the study may shed light on another development in Germany: that immediately after reunification the total fertility rate in the former GDR fell to the extremely low level of about 0.6 in 1993 and 1994. The experience of the former East German population is therefore similar to that of German-origin migrants from the former Soviet Union.

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living conditions fertility rates Germany Soviet immigrants population fertility