Germany.. 1.9 Million University Graduates Face the Shadow of Poverty

SadaNews - Recent data released by the Federal Statistical Office in Germany has revealed that approximately 1.9 million individuals with higher educational qualifications in the country will face the risk of poverty by 2025, an increase of 350,000 people compared to 2022, according to numbers requested by the Left Party leader Sarah Wagenknecht.

The data points to a striking paradox; the number of individuals holding higher educational qualifications has increased by more than 1.6 million during the same period, reaching a total of around 21.04 million by 2025, compared to 19.41 million in 2022.

This group includes university graduates, higher education institutions, and vocational academies, as reported by the German news agency.

Despite the widening base of highly educated individuals, the job market has not absorbed everyone into appropriately paid positions.

According to data from the Federal Employment Agency, the unemployment rate among those with academic education rose from 2.2% in 2022 to 3.3% in 2025, reflecting increased pressure on this demographic.

A person officially at risk of poverty is defined as one whose income falls below 60% of the national average income, which was approximately 1446 euros (about 1565 dollars) per month for an individual living alone in 2025.

Most Vulnerable to Poverty

Despite the rising number of those at risk of poverty among graduates, the risk remains significantly higher among those with lower educational qualifications.

Out of 14.34 million people in this category, around 4.14 million were at risk of poverty in 2025.

The data also indicates that the risk of poverty among those with a secondary education exceeds that of academics.

Party leader Sarah Wagenknecht considered the increase in the number of those at risk of poverty among graduates a failure of the government and a result of economic policies she described as ineffective.

She stated that "decline and poverty are now affecting all educational levels," adding that the government needs to stimulate the economy and provide opportunities for advancement through work and diligence.