Berlin & Brandenburg Daycare Crisis: Over 50,000 Unfilled Spots Despite Increased Capacity

Berlin and Brandenburg struggle to keep up with daycare demand. Over 50,000 spots remain unfilled, highlighting the urgent need for more educators and policy changes.

, and Administrator

2025 October 31 . 1:06 PM

1 min read

In this picture we can see red color double Decker bus is parked in the front. Behind there is a... — In this picture we can see red color double Decker bus is parked in the front. Behind there is a shed and electrical pole.

Full daycare centers in Berlin? Over 30,000 places recently available - Berlin & Brandenburg Daycare Crisis: Over 50,000 Unfilled Spots Despite Increased Capacity

The demand for daycare in Berlin and Brandenburg has been outpacing supply since 2016, with a significant gap persisting. This issue is largely due to a decline in qualified educators and demographic shifts, according to local and regional authorities managing childcare infrastructure and policies.

In Berlin, over 197,700 daycare spots have been approved, but more than 30,000 remain unfilled. As of March 1, 2025, only around 166,500 children are enrolled in daycare centers. The occupancy rates vary throughout the year, with more children attending in spring and spots being filled again after the summer. Since 2016, vacant daycare spots in Berlin have more than doubled.

In Brandenburg, the situation is equally concerning. As of March 2025, there are around 34,000 unfilled daycare spots. Despite the increase in daycare centers since 2023, the demand continues to exceed capacity.

The widening gap between daycare capacity and demand in Berlin and Brandenburg highlights the need for urgent attention from local and regional authorities. Addressing the decline in qualified educators and demographic shifts is crucial to ensure that all children have access to quality daycare.