Germany’s poverty rate climbed to a record 16.1% in 2025, with about 13.3 million people now classified as poor, according to a report released Tuesday by the Parity Welfare Association, a coalition of charitable organisations in the country.
“Social divisions in Germany are widening. 13.3 million people live in poverty, and the poverty rate has risen to 16.1 percent.
“At the same time, the gap between regions and demographic groups is growing. While poverty is increasing overall, it is becoming particularly entrenched among older adults, women, and single parents,” Joachim Rock, the association’s executive director, said in a statement.
He further warned, “We are seeing a society that is drifting further apart socially. People can feel this. Discussing yet more cuts now fuels fear and uncertainty. This plays into the hands of populists and extremists.”
Under the European Union’s poverty benchmark, individuals are considered at risk of poverty if they earn less than 60% of the national median income. In Germany, this amounted to €1,446 ($1,683) per month for a single-person household and €3,036 for a family made up of two adults and two children under 14.
The report also highlighted growing financial strain on households, noting that 6.9% of the population lacked enough income last year to meet routine living expenses, including rising energy costs and the replacement of essential household appliances.
Older people were among the hardest hit, with the poverty rate reaching 19.5% among those aged 65 and above—meaning nearly one in five seniors is affected. Among women aged over 75, the figure stood at 21.3%.
People living alone face a poverty risk of 30.3%, while single parents have a poverty rate of 28.9%, the report added.
