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3w ago

Germany’s Single-Person Households Hit New High at 20.6%

Updated microcensus data reveal elevated poverty, loneliness risks among Germany’s growing single-person households.

Eine Frau liegt in ihrer Wohnung auf einem Sofa.
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17 Millionen Menschen in Deutschland, also jeder Fünfte, leben allein in ihrer Wohnung.
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Overview

  • According to the microcensus 2024, 17 million Germans now live alone, making up 20.6 percent of the population—a 22 percent increase since 2004.
  • Single-person households are most common among those over 65 (34 percent) and especially over 85 (56 percent), with 28 percent of adults aged 25 to 34 also living alone.
  • Women account for 21.2 percent of single-person households compared to 20 percent for men, and Germany’s share exceeds the EU average of 16.2 percent.
  • Nearly 29 percent of solo dwellers face poverty risks, almost double the rate of the general population, and 26 percent report frequent loneliness.
  • The microcensus projects that single-person households—already the most common household type at 41.6 percent—could rise above 45 percent by 2040.