Germany sets poverty line at €1,446 net for single adults

The Federal Statistical Office reports that in 2025 about 16.1% of the German population were at risk of poverty and 21.2% faced the threat of social exclusion. Poverty is defined as having insufficient income for basic needs, with the threshold set at 60 % of the median income. For that year the median‑income‑based limit equals a net monthly salary of €1,446 for single individuals and €3,036 for a couple with two children under 14.

Groups most often affected include retirees, single parents and large families, whose incomes frequently fall below the defined limit. The definition also considers social participation factors such as education, housing and access to health care.

These figures aim to guide policy measures and social support programmes targeting those most vulnerable in German society.