das  Durchschnittsalter

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈdʊʁçʃnɪtsˌʔaltɐ/

📊 What does 'das Durchschnittsalter' mean?

Das Durchschnittsalter means the arithmetic mean or average age of a specific group of people or sometimes objects (e.g., das Durchschnittsalter of a vehicle fleet). It's calculated by summing up the ages of all individuals in the group and dividing this sum by the number of individuals.

It's a statistical value frequently used to describe demographic structures, social trends, or the state of populations (humans, animals, plants) or objects.

It's a compound noun formed from Durchschnitt (average) and Alter (age).

🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: das Durchschnittsalter

The word "Durchschnittsalter" is a neuter noun. The article is das.

Although it usually refers to a single statistical value, a plural form (die Durchschnittsalter) is theoretically possible but very rarely used in practice.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural - rare

💡 Example Sentences

1. Das Durchschnittsalter der Bevölkerung steigt kontinuierlich an.
   (The average age of the population is continuously increasing.)
2. Wir haben das Durchschnittsalter der Teilnehmer berechnet.
   (We calculated the average age of the participants.)
3. Der Bericht analysiert das Durchschnittsalter bei der Erstgeburt.
   (The report analyses the average age at first birth.)
4. In dieser Abteilung liegt das Durchschnittsalter der Mitarbeiter bei 42 Jahren.
   (In this department, the average age of the employees is 42 years.)

🗣️ How to Use 'das Durchschnittsalter'

"Das Durchschnittsalter" is mainly used in contexts related to statistics, demography, sociology, or market research.

• Demography: Describing the age structure of a population (e.g., of a country, a city). Example: Das Durchschnittsalter in Deutschland ist hoch. (The average age in Germany is high.)
• Social Sciences: Examining age groups in relation to specific phenomena (e.g., average age at marriage, retirement). Example: Das Durchschnittsalter der Erstwähler. (The average age of first-time voters.)
• Business/Marketing: Defining target groups (e.g., the average age of a brand's customers). Example: Zielgruppe: Männer, Durchschnittsalter 35. (Target group: Men, average age 35.)
• Medicine/Biology: Indicating the mean age in study populations or for specific diseases.

Important note: The average age can be influenced by extreme values (very young or very old individuals in the group). Therefore, the median age (Medianalter) is sometimes more informative.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic (das): Think of das Alter (the age). The German word for "age" is neuter ("das Alter"). Since "Durchschnittsalter" ends with and incorporates "Alter", it keeps the neuter article: das Durchschnittsalter. Just like das Kind (the child) has das Alter.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you have to cut (durchSCHNITT means 'cut' or 'average') a cake representing all the ages (Alter) in a group. The point where you cut to divide it fairly represents the mean – das Durchschnittsalter.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Lehrer: "Wenn fünf Leute im Raum sind und ihr Durchschnittsalter 20 Jahre beträgt, wie alt sind sie, wenn eine 80-jährige Person den Raum betritt?" Antwortet Fritzchen: "Deutlich älter und wahrscheinlich bereit für den Mittagsschlaf!" 😄

English: The teacher asks: "If there are five people in the room and their average age is 20, how old are they when an 80-year-old person enters the room?" Little Fritz answers: "Significantly older and probably ready for a nap!" 😄

📜 Poem about Average Age

German:
Man zählt die Jahre, eins, zwei, drei,
Von vielen Leuten, manch Geschrei.
Teilt dann die Summe, klar und schlicht,
Das Durchschnittsalter tritt ins Licht.
Ein Wert, der zeigt, wie alt im Schnitt,
Die Gruppe ist, Schritt für Schritt.

English Translation:
One counts the years, one, two, three,
Of many people, some with glee.
Then divides the sum, plain and neat,
The average age comes into sight.
A value showing the mean age reached,
The group reflects, step by step preached.

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich bin eine Zahl, doch kein Geburtsjahr allein.
Ich messe die Mitte, bin mal groß, mal klein.
Von Gruppen erzähl' ich, wie die Zeit sie prägt,
Wenn man alle ihre Lebensjahre zusammenwägt
Und teilt durch die Köpfe, ganz mathematisch klar.
Wie nennt man mich wohl? Ich bin...

English Translation:
I am a number, but not a birth year alone.
I measure the middle, sometimes big, sometimes small shown.
I tell of groups, how time shapes their way,
When all their life years are weighed together, come what may,
And divided by heads, mathematically clear.
What am I called? I am...

Solution: das Durchschnittsalter (the average age)

🧩 Word Composition & Trivia

Word Components

Das Durchschnittsalter is composed of:

• Der Durchschnitt: Meaning 'average' or 'cross-section'.
• Das Alter: Meaning 'age' or 'lifespan'.

Interesting Facts

Das Durchschnittsalter is a key indicator in demography. In many industrialized nations, including Germany, the average age of the population is increasing. This phenomenon is often referred to as “demographic change” (demografischer Wandel) and has far-reaching consequences for society, the economy, and social security systems.