Berlin, Feb 17, IRNA — The number of poor people in Germany has substantially increased over the past decade, according to a study released on Wednesday which indicated that some 11.5 million people were living in poverty.
Around 14 percent of Germany’s total population of 82 million people were below poverty line, up one-third over the past 10 years, said the report of the Berlin-based German Institute for Economic Research (DIW).
It pointed out that nearly one-fourth of young Germans between the ages of 19 and 25 as well as families were especially facing an imminent risk of poverty.
The sudden surge in poverty was linked to a growing numbers of young people seeking higher education, the extension of time spent in vocational training, a stagnant post-education job market, and a tendency toward moving out of their parents’ home at an earlier age.
Large families are also at higher risk for poverty, the DIW said.
About 22 percent of those with three children were at risk for poverty, while it was more than 36 percent for those with four children.
“Compared to 1998, the poverty risk for homes with many children has risen substantially,” said the co-author of the long-term study Joachim Frick, adding that this was despite an increase in child care facilities and additional money for families from the government.
Meanwhile, over 40 percent of single-parent homes are below the poverty line.
The European Union has defined those who earn an income less than 60 percent of a country’s national average as at risk for poverty.
For a one person household this means an income of 925 euro, while a couple would need to earn less than 1,388 euros.
A couple with one child would be considered poor if they earned less than 1,665 euros, and 1,943 euros for parents with two children.