One in four German children relies on state support, and experts warn of long-term risks.
About three million children in Germany live in families that rely on state social assistance to cover all or part of their living costs. This includes basic income support, other social assistance programs, or special supplements for children. These figures were confirmed by government ministries and the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit – BA) in response to an inquiry from the newspaper Welt am Sonntag.
Among these, about 1,810,000 children and young people under the age of 18 received basic income support according to Social Law II, while around 1.3 million others received child supplements, designated for families earning little so that they cannot cover their basic needs but slightly above the threshold allowed for full support.
Child poverty affects many aspects of life, from education to social participation. Even simple activities like meals or vacations can become a significant financial burden for low-income families. The German Child Protection Association has warned that this issue is widely overlooked.
Economist Bernd Raffelhüschen warns that growth in an environment dependent on social assistance has long-term consequences. Studies show that children from these families are at a higher risk of facing difficulties in achieving financial independence as adults. He emphasizes that the widespread reliance on support can lead to systemic social and economic challenges.
Migration plays an important role in this trend. Among the 1,810,000 children receiving citizen income until June 2025, 854,000 of them were non-German citizens. Many migrant families take years to secure stable jobs that enable them to support themselves, increasing reliance on government assistance. Experts and policymakers express growing concern that without intervention, child poverty will continue to rise, exacerbating social inequality.