The number of cases has increased by 31% within five years
Youth welfare offices report approximately 72,800 cases of child endangerment for 2024
The number of cases of child endangerment in Germany has reached a new record high for the third time in a row: In 2024, youth welfare offices in Germany identified around 72,800 children or young people as being at risk of child endangerment due to neglect, psychological, physical or sexual violence.
According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the number of child welfare cases has increased by almost a third (+31%) or 17,300 cases within five years. In 2019 – the year before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic – the figure was around 55,500 cases.
Year-on-year increase estimated at 8%
The number of cases also increased significantly in 2024 compared to the previous year: In 2023, authorities reported approximately 63,700 cases of child endangerment. However, since several youth welfare offices were unable to provide data at that time, the Federal Statistical Office made an estimate, which assumed approximately 67,300 cases of child endangerment for 2023. Compared to this estimate, the number of cases rose sharply in 2024, by 8% or 5,500 cases. Compared to the cases reported in 2023, the increase in 2024 was even 14% (+9,100 cases).
The affected children were on average 8.3 years old
Approximately half (52%) of the children at risk of child endangerment were younger than nine years old, and one in three (33%) were even younger than six. The average age was 8.3 years. Most of the affected minors grew up with both parents (38%) or with a single parent (37%). Fourteen percent lived with a parent in a new partnership, and 10% lived in a children's home, with relatives, or elsewhere. In almost one in three cases (32%), at least one parent was of foreign origin (born abroad), and the family language was not German.
To end the dangerous situation, a support or protective measure was subsequently agreed upon in 91% of cases. In 18% of these cases, the youth welfare offices referred the matter to the family court. Family courts are involved, for example, when the parents are unwilling or unable to avert the danger to the child, such as by refusing offered support.
Particularly common: neglect and psychological abuse
In most cases of child endangerment, authorities had observed signs of neglect (58%). In 37%, they found evidence of psychological abuse. In a further 28% of cases, there was evidence of physical abuse, and in 6%, of sexual abuse. While boys were somewhat more frequently affected by neglect (53%) and physical abuse (51%), this was true for girls in the case of psychological (51%) and especially sexual abuse (67%).
In 75% of all cases, the child's welfare was endangered – exclusively or primarily – by a parent. In another 4%, it was a stepparent, a parent's new partner, and in 6%, another person, such as an aunt, foster parent, coach, or caregiver. In 8% of cases, it could be stated that the endangerment originated from several people, but no primary individual could be identified. And in another 8%, it was completely unknown or unclear who was endangering the child's welfare.
Another record high: Authorities investigated 239,400 suspected cases in advance
In the run-up to the 2024 tax year, youth welfare offices had assessed approximately 239,400 suspected cases of child endangerment. This represents a 38% increase in risk assessments within five years – even more than the actual increase in child endangerment – and also reached a new record high. In 78,000 additional cases, the authorities identified a need for support, although they did not find child endangerment.
In 2024, the police and judiciary forwarded most reports of potential child endangerment to youth welfare offices (31%). Reports from the general public – relatives, acquaintances, neighbors, or anonymously – were somewhat less frequent (21%). These were followed by child, youth, or educational support services (13%) and schools (12%). Only in about one-tenth of cases did the reports originate from the families themselves, i.e., from the minors involved (2%) or their parents (7%).
Methodological notes:
Child endangerment (acute or latent) exists when significant harm to a child's physical, mental, or emotional well-being is threatened or has already occurred. In suspected cases, youth welfare offices are obligated to assess the risk of endangerment and the need for assistance by conducting a risk assessment and to counteract any endangerment (§ 8a SGB VIII).
The individuals considered to pose a risk to a child's welfare include not only those actively endangering the child, but also guardians who have failed to avert such danger. The information provided here is a subjective assessment made by youth welfare professionals at the time the risk assessment was completed. Further definitions, content, and statistical quality information can be found in the new quality report.
Further information:
Detailed results of the statistics on the duty to protect children at risk, including data by federal state, are available in the GENESIS-Online database (tables 22518) and on the "Child Protection and Child Welfare" topic page of the Federal Statistical Office's website. Further data is available in the new statistical report "Statistics on the Duty to Protect Children at Risk.".
Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), Press Release No. 451 , 15 December 2025