Overview

• The number of Elterngeld recipients in 2024 dropped by 5.4% compared to 2023, with 1.67 million parents receiving benefits, according to official data.
• This marks the third consecutive year of declining recipient numbers, coinciding with a 15% reduction in Germany's birth rate since 2021.
• New income restrictions taking effect in April 2025 will limit eligibility to single parents and couples earning up to €175,000 annually.
• Elterngeld Plus, offering extended but lower payments, gained popularity in 2024, with 36.7% of recipients opting for this option.
• Critics warn that further cuts to Elterngeld could discourage highly educated women from having children, potentially impacting the labor market and demographic trends.