Number of German children at risk of violence rises in 2022

The number of German children whose well-being is at risk due to neglect, psychological, physical or sexual violence rose to 62,3000 last year, reaching a new record, according to the Federal Statistical Office, reported dpa.

The number rose by about 4%, or 2,300 cases, compared to 2021, the office said on Wednesday, citing reports by youth welfare authorities.

In an additional 68,900 cases, the authorities found no risk to the welfare of the child but a need for educational assistance - a 2% increase compared to the year before.

The number of reports of suspected threats to children's welfare received by the authorities increased by 3% to 203,700.

According to the data, the number of children at risk in the long-term increased by 63% to around 24,000 cases in the years from 2012 to 2022.

The number of cases increased particularly strongly from 2017 up to and including the first Covid-19 pandemic year 2020 - by 9 to 10% per year. In the second pandemic year 2021, the numbers dropped slightly.

The number of so-called latent cases - where an imminent danger could not be confirmed but a strong suspicion remained - dropped by 1% last year, while the number of acute cases increased by 10% to 33,400 cases in 2022,

About four out of five of the affected children were younger than 14, about every second was younger than 8, the office reported.

Almost half of the children affected (47%) were already receiving child and youth welfare services at the time of the risk assessment, that is they were already in contact with the welfare services.