Germany finds 21% of residents cannot afford a week‑long vacation

A Spiegel report, citing data from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, shows that 21 % of Germans say they lack the financial means to fund a one‑week summer holiday. The inability to afford a short vacation is closely tied to income: almost half (48 %) of the lowest‑earning 20 % of the population and 28 % of the next income bracket (up to €2,100 per month) report they could not cover the cost.

Single‑person households are especially affected, with 29 % indicating they cannot afford a week away, while the share rises to 39 % among single‑parent families. The German figure is below the European Union average of 28 %, which varies widely – the highest rates are reported in Romania (61 %) and Greece (47 %), whereas Luxembourg (11 %), Sweden (12 %) and the Netherlands (13 %) have the lowest shares. The figures are based on EU‑SILC statistics and include projections for 2025 derived from a 2022 survey.