Recent data from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office shows that about 1.9 million people with higher education qualifications were at risk of poverty in 2025, an increase of 350,000 compared to 2022.
Although the number of highly educated individuals rose by more than 1.6 million to 21.04 million, the labor market failed to provide adequate jobs with fair wages. Unemployment among academics increased from 2.2% in 2022 to 3.3% in 2025.
Officially, a person is considered at risk of poverty if their income is below 60% of the national median, which in 2025 was about €1,446 per month for a single individual.
Sources – Agencies
