Forsa survey: More parents in Germany face financial worries

More parents in Germany fear they may soon struggle to pay for heating, clothing and food, according to a Forsa survey commissioned by Save the Children. The share expressing concern rose to 27%, from 25% in the previous survey and 15% in January 2025.

The survey also found a sharp fall in the number of parents who said they had no financial worries about the future. That figure dropped from 48% to 40% compared with the last poll.

For many families, the pressure extends beyond basic necessities. Twenty-one percent of respondents said they could probably not afford, or definitely could not afford, items and activities such as new furniture, outings, restaurant visits, holidays or their children’s hobbies. Another 22% said they had cut back on spending for their children, or at least had to think carefully before paying, during the previous 12 months. The expenses included leisure activities, hobbies, celebrations and gifts.

Parents with low incomes and single parents reported financial worries particularly often. The survey also showed broad skepticism toward the government’s current approach: 83% doubted that its plans would be enough to combat child poverty effectively.

Eric Großhaus, Save the Children Germany’s expert on child poverty and social inequality, called for an overall strategy that would allow children to grow up well regardless of their background. Such a policy, he said, could “regain families’ trust” while helping ensure that the economy can later rely on the best-trained workers. Forsa questioned 1,001 parents of minor children in Germany by telephone between July 13 and 30.

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regain families’ trust