The number of people living alone in Germany has risen sharply over the past two decades. According to figures released on Wednesday by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), approximately one in five people in Germany lived alone last year, a total of around 17.3 million, or roughly 21 percent of the population.
Compared to 2005, the share of solo-living households has grown by more than 22 percent. Two decades ago, the rate stood at 17.3 percent, with just under 14.2 million people living alone. The increase reflects broad shifts in demographics, family structures, and urban living patterns across the country.
People aged 65 and over are particularly likely to live alone. In this age group, approximately one in three people lives in a single-person household, with the share standing at 34.4 percent last year. Among those aged 85 and over, the proportion rises to nearly 56 percent—meaning more than half of the oldest cohort live by themselves. These findings emerged from an initial analysis of data from the so-called Mikrozensus survey.
Solo living is not limited to older generations. Among young adults aged 25 to 34, the share of those living alone is also above the national average, at around 29 percent. This points to delayed household formation among working-age adults, particularly in urban environments.
The statistics also reveal a clear urban-rural divide. In cities with more than 100,000 residents, nearly 26 percent of people, about one in four, lived alone last year. In smaller municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants, the corresponding figure was around 17 percent.
When compared across European Union member states, Germany's share of solo-living residents is notably high. The EU-wide average last year stood at just 16.5 percent. Only Lithuania, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, and Sweden had a higher proportion of single-person households than Germany. At the other end of the scale, Slovakia recorded the lowest share at just 3 percent, followed by Ireland at 8.1 percent and Poland at 9.2 percent.
The Federal Statistical Office specified that the figures cover only private main residences. The marital status of those surveyed was not taken into account, meaning the data does not distinguish between single, married, or divorced individuals who happen to live alone. People residing in care homes, nursing facilities, or communal accommodation were not included in the survey.
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