Children in Germany: A poverty risk for the future?

Children in Germany: A poverty risk for the future?

The situation of children in Germany is becoming increasingly worse, and the alarming figures show that children are now more than ever perceived as a poverty risk. According to a recently published report by Freitag.de, more and more people in our country say that having a large number of children is often associated with educationally disadvantaged classes. The birth rate in Germany is currently only 1.35 children per woman. This situation is made even more difficult by the fact that the risk of poverty increases significantly in households with more children than working adults.

Statistics from the 2019 microcensus show that almost one in three people in households with two adults and three or more children are at risk of poverty. Single parents are particularly hard hit; they are at high risk of poverty. The high rents and cost of living add to the burden on families. In this context, it is estimated that it costs parents on average around 250,000 euros to raise a child to adulthood - and in some cases this can even reach the million euro mark.

The alarming poverty among children

According to current reports from destatis, 24% of children and young people in Germany are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. In 2023 alone, there were almost 2.1 million children and young people under the age of 18 who were considered at risk of poverty. The poverty rate among young people is 14.0%, which is only slightly below the population as a whole.

Social background has a significant influence on the risk of poverty. 36.8% of children of parents with a low level of education are affected, while the figure is only 5.8% for parents with a higher level of education. These statistical relationships make it clear that education plays a key role in counteracting social disadvantage.

The consequences of child poverty

But what does it actually mean to be poor? The affected families often cannot afford basic things, from vacations to new clothes to necessary car repairs. The standard of living, which is considered a measure of poverty in Germany, puts many children and families in a precarious situation.

UNICEF emphasizes that parents' poverty has a direct impact on their children. Children from poor families not only have fewer chances of good development, but are also exposed to an increased risk of illness and exclusion from social participation. Institutions and organizations are required to break this vicious circle.

Causes of the decline in the birth rate

The decline in birth rates is also fueled by economic uncertainty and political crises. Women of childbearing age want an average of 1.76 children, which leads to a so-called “fertility gap”. In order to counteract the decline in birth rates, a permanent redistribution of wealth from top to bottom is considered necessary. One-time bonuses per birth are perceived as insufficient to bring about real change.

Incidentally, the birth rate among German multimillionaires is 1.9 children per woman, which is well above the German average. In the long term, it would be in the interests of society and prosperity if conditions improved.

The road to tackling child poverty in Germany is rocky and a number of measures are needed. A comprehensive discussion about redistribution and support for families is urgently needed so that children are once again perceived as what they are - an asset and not a burden.

You can find more information on this topic in the articles from Freitag.de, destatis and UNICEF.