More and more people are at risk of poverty: but when does one actually count as “poor” in Germany?
Frankfurt – More and more people in Germany are considered poor.
This was the recent result of the survey by the "Economic and Social Science Institute (WSI)" of the Hans Böckler Foundation.
"In 2019, more people in Germany were affected by poverty than ever before," says the "WSI" study.
With inflation and rising energy prices, these numbers are expected to increase further.
+
When is one considered at risk of poverty in Germany?
(symbol photo)
© Photothek/Imago
But when does one actually count as “poor” in Germany?
The authors of the WSI study also emphasize that the definition is by no means easy.
This is reported by the
Frankfurter Rundschau
.
In most cases, however, the median income in the population is used.
"The standard poverty line, which is also used in the distribution report, is 60 percent of median income," say the authors.
According to the Federal Employment Agency, the median in all occupational groups for full-time employees in 2021 was around 3516 euros per month.
Poverty in Germany: From what income people are considered "poor".
In the calculations of the Federal Statistical Office, the experts speak of people at risk of poverty.
And of a “threshold for poverty risk”.
This was reached in 2020 as soon as a person living alone had less than 15,605 euros available per year, which roughly corresponds to an average monthly salary of 1,300 euros.
For two adults
with two children under the age of 14 the threshold was around 2731 per month.
For 2021, these numbers have been slightly adjusted:
At-risk-of poverty threshold 2021 | |
|---|---|
living alone | 1250.75 euros per month |
Two adults with two children under 14 years old | 2626.67 euros per month |
Source: Federal Statistical Office |
Poor despite working in Germany: So many people are affected
Despite having a job, many people in Germany are considered at risk of poverty.
In 2019, it was eight percent of employed persons aged 18 and over.
In 2021, according to the Federal Statistical Office, 8.6 percent were below the risk of poverty line.
Employed persons with fixed-term employment contracts and part-time workers were therefore most affected.
Students were also particularly often considered to be at risk of poverty.
A survey by the Federal Office showed that by 2021 around 38 percent were at risk of poverty.
(slo)
List of rubrics: © Photothek/Imago