Germany records record‑high poverty rate as aging population raises concerns

An Equality of Welfare Union report released today shows that 13.3 million people in Germany now live in poverty, pushing the national poverty rate to 16.1% for 2024‑25 – a rise of 0.6 percentage points and the highest level in recent years. The study highlights stark regional differences: Bavaria (12.6%) and Baden‑Wurttemberg (13.2%) have the lowest rates, while Bremen (27.5%), Saxony‑Anhalt (21.3%), Hamburg (18.9%) and Berlin (18.7%) record the highest.

Vulnerable groups include nearly one in five people over 65, single households (30.3%), single‑parent families (28.9%) and those with low education (29.1%). Four out of five of those affected are unemployed, and 70% are German nationals. The report warns that an aging population could become a “poverty trap,” noting that 6.9% of the population is expected to lack sufficient funds for basic living costs in 2025, with heating expenses being the main burden.