Desired number of children and family planning in East and West Germany

The Federal Institute for Population Research (BIB) initiated in the summer of 1992 the interviewing of about 10000 German men and women aged 20-39 years in East and West Germany within the scope of the UN/ECE project of "Fertility and Family Surveys in Countries of the ECE Region (FFS)." This contribution presents first results of this survey. After a general overview on the major differences between men and women living in East and West Germany the results of questions on the existing and/or desired number of children and on the use of methods of family planning are presented. Supplementary to this presentation of results an overview is given on the concept of the UN/ECE-FFS project and on methodological matters with regard to the design and implementation of the German survey within the scope of this international FFS project. (authors) (summaries in ENG FRE GER)