2.2m German children at risk of poverty in 2022

Almost 2.2 million children and young people under the age of 18 were at risk of poverty in Germany last year, corresponding to a risk rate of 14.8%, the Federal Statistical Office reported on Wednesday, said dpa.

The extent to which children and youths are threatened by poverty depends on the education level of their parents, among other things.

According to the authority, the risk rate of children whose parents had a low level of education - such as a lower secondary school diploma as their highest qualification - was 37.6% last year.

In contrast, only 14.5% of under-18s with parents who have an intermediate level of education were at risk of poverty. This group includes parents with educational qualifications such as completed vocational training or the higher secondary school exams.

Only 6.7% of children whose parents had higher education - such as a university degree - were at risk of poverty.

Someone is considered at risk of poverty when they have less than 60% of the median income of the total population.

Last year, this figure was €1,250 net per month for a person living alone in Germany and €2,625 net per month for two adults with two children under the age of 14.