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One million children in Germany: Alarming poverty and fear of the future!
Over a million children in Germany live in poverty. UNICEF warns of negative consequences for education and health.
One million children in Germany: Alarming poverty and fear of the future!
On November 12, 2025, an alarming report by UNICEF on the situation of children in Germany was published, highlighting that more than a million children in our country are growing up in poverty and lack basic needs. Loud daily news Nine percent of the total 14 million children in Germany are affected. These children often have no room for homework, cannot afford full meals and do not even have a second pair of shoes.
It is particularly worrying that 44 percent of affected children live in overcrowded housing. In addition, at least 130,000 children are homeless and housed in municipal accommodation. The report shows how the family situation in which these children live severely affects their chances of participation.
The effects of poverty
The consequences of child poverty are diverse and frightening. According to the report, a quarter of children cannot read well, and digital literacy among young people is alarmingly low: 41 percent of eighth graders have only rudimentary skills with computers and digital tools. Over 62,000 children leave school every year without a qualification, a development that has stagnated for years.
In addition, 40 percent of 11 to 15 year olds regularly suffer from health problems such as headaches and sleep problems. The proportion of children affected has increased in recent years from 24 percent in 2014 to 40 percent in 2022. Georg Graf Waldersee, Chairman of UNICEF Germany, warns urgently: “The future of Germany is at risk if support for children is not noticeably improved.”
Calls for reforms
The director of the German Youth Institute, Sabine Walper, criticizes the stagnating developments in combating child poverty in Germany. There is an urgent need for action to offer children from disadvantaged backgrounds fair opportunities. UNICEF recommends targeted investments in programs that primarily benefit poor children, as well as expanding the “Start Opportunity Program” in schools.
The data comes from extensive research and surveys that shed light on the reality of over a million children in Germany. It is becoming increasingly clear that the social participation and professional success of the children affected are at serious risk. The report on the situation of children has been published by UNICEF since 2006 and is based on official statistics and representative surveys, supplemented by qualitative participation formats that, for the first time, make the voices of young people heard.
Let's look at the numbers: Every year, 1.9 million children live in families that are dependent on citizens' money, which further worsens the situation. If nothing changes, poverty among children in Germany will remain an unavoidable issue in the coming years. UNICEF therefore calls on all political actors to take decisive action against these grievances and to improve the conditions for children in Germany so that they too can have a better future. UNICEF and the Time help bring these important issues into focus and initiate the necessary change.