Poverty Risk Rises Among Germany’s University Graduates

Nearly 2 million university educated Germans were at risk of poverty in 2025, highlighting growing economic strain even among highly qualified professionals in Germany.

According to data released by the Federal Statistical Office in response to a parliamentary inquiry from the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, approximately 1.9 million individuals with academic degrees fell below the poverty risk threshold last year. That marks an increase of roughly 350,000 compared with 2022.

The rise comes despite continued expansion in higher education. Germany now counts around 21 million university graduates nationwide. However, figures from the Federal Employment Agency show that unemployment among academics climbed to 3.3 percent, up from 2.2 percent three years earlier.

Sahra Wagenknecht, founder of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, said the data demonstrate that economic decline and financial insecurity are increasingly affecting all educational levels. She urged policymakers to prioritize economic recovery and restore social mobility through employment and wage growth.

While the trend signals mounting pressure on the middle class, poverty risk remains significantly higher among those with lower educational attainment. Of the 14.3 million people classified as having low qualifications, approximately 4.1 million were considered at risk of poverty in 2025.

Under Germany’s official definition, individuals earning less than 60 percent of the national median income are deemed at risk of poverty. For a single adult, that threshold stood at €1,446 per month last year.