Overview
- The Federal Employment Agency’s Familienkasse confirms around €528 million went to foreign bank accounts in 2025, up from €514 million in 2024 and €35.8 million in 2010.
- Total Kindergeld disbursements reached about €55.32 billion for 17.57 million children, with foreign-account transfers accounting for roughly 1% of spending.
- Of those children, 3.93 million had foreign citizenship, and more than 22% of funds went to non‑German families; Ukrainians ranked third by nationality in 2024.
- The agency notes that payments to non‑German accounts are permitted under EU and national rules and do not establish where children live, with eligibility checked and misuse described as isolated cases.
- A full 2025 country breakdown is still pending, though first‑half data pointed to EU destinations such as Poland, Romania, Czechia, France, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria, and political calls for tighter rules continue.