New figures from the Federal Statistical Office reveal a growing number of people in Germany living with incomes below the nationally defined poverty risk threshold. According to the latest EU-SILC 2025 data, 13.3 million residents were considered at risk of poverty, representing 16.1 percent of the population, up from 15.5 percent the previous year.
Under the European Union definition, a person is classified as being at risk of poverty if their income is below 60 percent of the national median. In 2025, this threshold was €1,446 per month for a single adult after taxes and social contributions, and €3,036 per month for a household with two adults and two children under 14. Because assessments are based on annual income, the data reflects earnings from 2024.
The new report shows significant disparities across household types. Single adults face the highest exposure, with 30.9 percent earning below the poverty threshold. Single-parent households follow closely at 28.7 percent, underscoring their continued financial vulnerability.
Employment status also plays a major role. Unemployed individuals show the highest poverty risk at 64.9 percent, while 33.8 percent of other non-employed individuals and 19.1 percent of retirees also fall below the threshold. These figures highlight persistent challenges among groups with limited or no access to stable income sources.
When additional factors beyond income are considered, the scale of social vulnerability becomes even clearer. In 2025, 17.6 million people, or 21.2 percent of Germany’s population, were classified as being at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This broader measure includes those facing significant material and social deprivation or living in households with very low work intensity.
Compared with the previous year’s rate of 21.1 percent, the proportion has remained nearly unchanged. Nevertheless, the figures reflect ongoing challenges related to economic stability, access to participation in society, and structural vulnerabilities affecting many different demographic groups.
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