Overview
- The share of under‑18s at risk of poverty increased to 15.2% in 2024 from 14.0% in 2023, equating to roughly 2.2 million children and adolescents.
- Children with an immigration history faced a 31.9% poverty risk compared with 7.7% among peers without such a background.
- Parental education strongly correlates with outcomes: 41.8% risk for children of less‑educated parents versus 7.2% where parents hold higher qualifications.
- Child‑specific material or social deprivation affected 11.3% of under‑16s based on a 17‑item index requiring three unmet needs, with examples including no replacement of worn furniture or inability to afford a week’s holiday.
- Germany’s rate remains below the EU average of 19.3%; ‘at risk’ is defined as income below 60% of the median, with 2024 thresholds at €1,381 for a single adult, €1,795 for a single parent with one child under 14, and €2,900 for two adults with two children under 14.