Germany reports 5.67 million overindebted adults

Recent reports indicate a rise in financial instability among German households. According to the iff-overindebtedness report 2026, approximately 5.67 million adults in Germany were overindebted in 2025, marking an increase of 111,000 individuals compared to 2024. This brings the overindebtedness rate to 8.16 percent, with an average debt level of approximately 19,168 euros. Creditreform provided similar figures, estimating 5.7 million affected individuals with an average debt load of around 19,200 euros.

Social challenges are further highlighted by data from the Federal Statistical Office, which states that every seventh child in Germany is at risk of poverty. Documentary coverage by ZDF has illustrated these pressures, showing how full-time employment and solid incomes are increasingly insufficient to protect families from financial distress. Factors such as reduced childcare availability and the loss of housing benefits have contributed to families struggling to cover basic living costs and credit installments.