Hamburg's sad reality: Almost every fifth child lives in poverty!

Hamburg's sad reality: Almost every fifth child lives in poverty!

In Hamburg there is a worrying picture when it comes to poverty among children. The current analysis of t online reveals that out of around 800 children in Nienstedten, only 11 live in households that rely on minimum income. This corresponds to a share of only 1.4%. In comparison, the majority of Hamburg families struggle with financial insecurity: 1,415 children citywide, i.e. 17.7% of all children in Hamburg, live in households that receive social benefits.

A look at the general housing conditions in Germany, as shown in the current social report bpb summarized shows that Hamburg has one of the lowest ownership rates in Germany. Only 20.1% of households own property, while 58% rent. This lays the foundation for the challenges that many Hamburg residents face.

Living alone in the big city

The living situation of Hamburg residents is clearly reflected in the numbers: more than one in three Hamburg residents now lives alone. In 2024 there were around 592,000 people, making up 55.3% of all households. The proportion of people living alone is particularly high in districts such as Kleiner Grasbrook at 80.6%, followed by Billbrook (74.8%) and Dulsberg (73.6%). However, these districts also struggle with high unemployment, especially in Hammerbrook and Kleiner Grasbrook, where over 70% of households are single-person households. Here, over a third of seniors live on citizen's money.

But living alone is not the same as poverty. In wealthy districts such as Nienstedten, Blankenese and Groß Flottbek, the proportion of singles is high, usually associated with financial security. In these areas, the proportion of single-person households is between 42.5% and 51.5% and the average living space is significantly larger. While the average living space in Hammerbrook and Kleiner Grasbrook is only 51 m², wealthier districts have areas of 136 m² or more.

Real estate prices and living space

The trend in real estate prices shows considerable differences within Hamburg. Prices per square meter in Hafencity reach an incredible 11,508 €/m², while in lower-income districts such as Wilhelmsburg or Steilshoop the prices drop to around 3,400 €/m². These price differences highlight the challenges for many hamburgers who want to live in an environment that is both reasonable and affordable.

As the proportion of people living alone increases, the average living space also becomes smaller. In rural areas, households own their apartments more often, while in cities, such as Hamburg, the ownership rate is only 20%. The ownership rate tends to be lower in large cities, which is linked to the high cost of living. Interestingly, households with an immigrant history live, on average, in smaller apartments than those without.

The results from the data of Federal Statistical Office show not only the importance of housing conditions for quality of life, but also the need to rethink policies to ensure fairer conditions. For many, the dream of owning their own home remains an unattainable distance.

For Hamburg, it is important to address the challenges of social inequality and the housing situation in order to create a city worth living in for everyone - regardless of whether in Nienstedten or Hammerbrook.