Poverty in Germany increased again in 2024: According to the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband's (Parity Welfare Association's) poverty report, 15.5 percent of the population must be counted as poor. That's almost 1 million more people than the previous year, bringing the total to around 13 million. Particularly noteworthy: People with low incomes have become even poorer, and the median income has fallen.
New focus series
The Parity Poverty Report, "Increasing Poverty," is the first installment in a new series of poverty reports focusing on various aspects of poverty. It is based on the microcensus subsample on income and living conditions from the Federal Statistical Office (MZ-SILC). The next installment of the Parity Poverty Report will address child poverty and is scheduled for publication in summer 2025.
Bremen has the highest poverty rate again at 25.9 percent
Bremen once again has by far the highest poverty rate in a comparison of German states: In 2024, 25.9 percent of the population in Bremen was affected by poverty, more than in 2023 (21.5 percent). In Bavaria, the poverty rate is 11.8 percent.
The issue of poverty is neglected
“It is alarming that the poverty rate – especially in Bremen – has risen. What we urgently need is a sensible poverty policy at the federal level. The new federal government must significantly improve in this area, because in our view, the issue is given far too little attention both in the election campaign and in the coalition agreement,” said Dr. Joachim Schuster, Chairman of the Board of the Paritätische Bremen (a social welfare organization).
The Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband (Parity Welfare Association) therefore sees a great need for action, in addition to better earned incomes, especially in combating housing and family poverty, strengthening the pension insurance system and expanding basic income support.
Poverty among the elderly is heavily disproportionately female
According to the poverty report, single parents, young adults, and pensioners are particularly affected by poverty, with poverty among the elderly being disproportionately female. For the first time, the poverty report also reveals the number of people living in severe material deprivation: 5.2 million people – including 1.1 million children and young people and 1.2 million full-time workers – cannot afford, for example, to keep their homes warm or replace old clothes.
Prioritize reducing the consequences of poverty
“We are concerned that the welfare state as a whole is becoming increasingly less effective at protecting against poverty,” warns Dr. Joachim Schuster. Poverty must be combated structurally, as it is the root cause of many other problems and ultimately endangers democracy. “The state of Bremen must continue to prioritize reducing the consequences of poverty, for example, by supporting children affected by poverty in daycare and schools, in labor market policy, and in housing construction,” Schuster continues.
Positive developments among the employed
The number of employed people living in poverty has developed positively: the report from the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband (Parity Welfare Association) shows a slight decrease. This improvement is attributed to the increase in the minimum wage and the reform of housing benefits.
Facts: Poverty in Bremen 2024
- The poverty rate in Bremen is 25.9 percent, an increase of 4.4 percentage points compared to 2023 (21.5%). 2020: 20.0%; 2021: 29.6%, see p. 40.
- Bremen once again has the highest poverty rate in Germany, but there are significant differences between the states: Bremen is followed by Saxony-Anhalt (22.3 percent), while all other German states have a poverty rate below 18 percent. In Bavaria (11.8 percent), only one in eight people is affected by poverty.
- The gap between Bavaria and Bremen widened even further from 2023 to 2024.
Facts: Poverty in Germany 2024
- From 2023 to 2024, the poverty rate in Germany rose by 1.1 percentage points. This means that 15.5 percent of the population is affected by poverty, which corresponds to 13 million people.
- The poverty line currently stands at €1,381 for single individuals and €2,900 for a family of four with two children (under 14). On average, low-income individuals have a monthly income €281 below the poverty line.
In 2024, women (16.2%) had a slightly higher poverty rate than men (14.7%). - Among 18- to 25-year-olds, women (26.9%) are 4 percentage points more likely to be affected by poverty than men (22.7%). There is also a discrepancy among older people. From the age of 75, 21.8% of women are affected by poverty, compared to 15.4% of men.
- Households/families affected by poverty cannot afford the following things for financial reasons:
- To pay mortgages/rents, utility bills or consumer loans on time,
- to keep the apartment adequately warm
- to take a one-week holiday every year,
- to eat a meal with meat, fish or a vegetarian alternative every other day,
- to finance unexpected expenses (1,250 euros) from own funds,
- owning a car,
- Replacing worn-out furniture
- Minimum wage and housing benefit reform are having an effect: The number of employed people living in poverty has decreased slightly.
- When calculating poverty rates, the Federal Statistical Office counts people who live in households whose income is less than 60 percent of the median income of all households.
- Due to the calculation method, only people living in their own household are counted. This excludes relevant groups: homeless people, people in care facilities or other communal accommodations (residential homes for people with disabilities, communal accommodations for refugees).
The Parity Poverty Report (Download)
Source: The Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband, Landesverband Bremen e. V., Paritätischer Armutsbericht: Poor werden noch poorer , 29.04.2025