Men Remain Primary Earners in Majority of German Households

New data shows little change in income distribution among couples, with women being the main earners in only 10.3% of households.

In 56.6% of German couple households, men earned significantly more than their partners in 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
Women were the primary earners in only 10.3% of households, a figure that has remained largely unchanged since 2021.
Couples where both partners earned roughly the same income accounted for 33.1%, showing a slight increase from 30.7% in 2021.
The disparity is more pronounced in households with children, where only 7.8% of women were the main earners, compared to 11.8% in childless households.
The persistent gap is attributed to factors such as women working part-time more frequently than men, particularly mothers.