Particle.news
Download on the App Store

New Index Finds Germany Falling Short on Children’s Rights With Sharp Gaps Between States

The authors say progress hinges more on political will than budgets.

Overview

  • Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia scored above average, while Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Saxony-Anhalt ranked below.
  • The index flags Saarland for high infant mortality, weak pediatric provision and low childcare investment, and urges a stronger focus on poverty reduction and school dropouts.
  • Saxony-Anhalt is marked by high shares of pupils outside mainstream schools, high dropout rates, poor off-hours transport and limited youth spaces.
  • Hamburg posts top results in participation, education and leisure access, though the report calls for stronger measures against child poverty.
  • Built on 101 indicators and a survey of 3,218 young people, the 2025 index compares six core rights and concludes no state implements them comprehensively.