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Official Data Show Youth Homelessness in Germany Nearly Tripled Since 2022

Lengthy shelter stays for teenagers point to mounting strain on local support systems.

Overview

  • More than 137,100 people under 18 were recorded as homeless on 31 January 2025, up from roughly 47,200 three years earlier, according to a federal reply to a parliamentary query.
  • Homelessness among 18- to 25-year-olds also rose sharply to about 55,700 from nearly 18,800 over the same period.
  • The highest counts were logged in North Rhine-Westphalia (about 31,700), followed by Baden-Württemberg (29,500) and Berlin (15,700).
  • The government attributes part of the increase to the inclusion of Ukrainian refugees since 2023 and to improved reporting by local authorities.
  • Teenagers aged 14 to 18 spent on average nearly 150 weeks in emergency accommodation in 2025, drawing criticism from Left party MP Sahra Mirow, who called the situation a social-policy failure.