Overview
- About 2.2 million under‑18s were at risk of poverty in 2024, up from 14.0% in 2023 to 15.2%, according to Destatis EU‑SILC data.
- Children with an immigration background faced a 31.9% at‑risk rate versus 7.7% among peers without such a background.
- Parental education strongly shaped outcomes, with a 41.8% at‑risk rate for children of low‑educated parents compared with 7.2% where parents held higher qualifications.
- Material or social deprivation affected 11.3% of under‑16s, including households unable to replace worn furniture (19%) or afford a week’s holiday (12%), with some children missing club activities (5%) or a second pair of shoes (3%).
- Germany’s child at‑risk rate remained below the EU average of 19.3%; 2024 poverty thresholds were €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.