Germany sees uptick in people living alone

Seventeen million people in Germany — or 20.6 per cent of the population — now live alone in their own homes, according to new figures from the country's Federal Statistics Office.

The number of people living solo has increased significantly over the past two decades. Twenty years ago, that share was just 17.1 per cent (14 million people)

How do the figures break down?

Older people are most likely to live alone: 34 per cent of those over 65 do so, and among those aged 85 and older, the share jumps to 56 per cent. But young adults between 25 and 34 also stand out, with 28 per cent living alone — well above average. Women live alone slightly more often than men (21.2 per cent versus 20 per cent).

Compared to the EU average of 16.2 per cent, Germany's share of solo households is high — only Lithuania, Finland, Denmark, Estonia and Sweden have higher rates. The lowest shares are found in Slovakia, Ireland and Poland.

Single-person households are already the most common household type in Germany, making up 41.6 per cent of the total. According to forecasts, this share could exceed 45 per cent by 2040.

Living alone can come with downsides: one in four people living alone says they often feel lonely — much higher than the 16.3 per cent average for the general population aged ten and older.

Loneliness is most common among those under 30 who live alone. Nearly 36 per cent of them report feeling lonely frequently. Among people living alone aged 65 and older, the share drops to just 17.6 per cent.

Single people are also more at risk of poverty. In 2023, 29 per cent of people living alone were considered at risk of poverty — nearly twice as high as the rate for the total population.