Germany is bearing the consequences of years of large-scale immigration, as new research shows that nearly two-thirds of refugees in the country are at risk of poverty.
A study by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), obtained in advance by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, reveals that 63.7% of refugees have incomes below the national poverty threshold.
According to DIW economist Markus Grabka, “When refugees are employed, these are usually low-paid, part-time, or mini-jobs.”
His study finds that while poverty rates among native Germans have remained stable over the past fifteen years—around 12 to 13%—the rate among refugees has soared, peaking at nearly 70% in 2020.
Although the figure has declined slightly since then, thanks to “increasing labour market integration,” Grabka warned that the overall trend remains troubling. The rise in poverty risk in Germany is strongly shaped by immigration, he said.
The DIW data shows that poverty in Germany has been driven largely by the influx of low-skilled migrants and the difficulty of integrating them into stable employment.
The number of foreign residents in Germany has more than doubled since 2010 to over 14 million, with significant arrivals from Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and—during the 2015–16 migration crisis—from Syria, Afghanistan, and Eritrea.
The official poverty risk line, defined as 60% of median household income, stood at €1,419 per month for a single person in 2022. Refugee households with dependents are assessed with proportionately higher thresholds.
Germany’s challenges mirror a wider European trend. As we recently reported,: a study by the European Commission says that more than seven million migrants remain outside the EU labour market. Migrant unemployment stands at 11.8%, double the EU average of 5.9%, and 38% live at risk of poverty.
The report also highlighted deep-rooted barriers to integration, including poor language skills, unrecognised qualifications, and cultural factors—particularly the low participation of women from Muslim backgrounds.
Despite repeated promises that immigration would benefit Europe’s economies, the data shows persistent failure to integrate newcomers. For Germany, the figures suggest that the social costs of its open-door policies are now undeniable.
