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The number of single parents housing underage children in Germany has been increasing with figures for single fathers amounting to *** thousand in 2018. In comparison, the number of single mothers with underage children amounted to roughly *** million that year, a decrease compared to the previous years, in which the number amounted to almost *** million.

Single parents

General statistics on households with children in Germany show that most families had *** child, though it is not always possible to determine whether this was a household with *** parent or ***. Reasons for being a single parent may vary. It may be due to a court-appointed decision after a divorce, the death of a partner or other circumstances which might have led to parenting a child or children alone. When considering single mothers, additional reasons may include having children outside of a relationship or biological fathers refusing to be involved in raising children. These are only a few examples. As far as families with underage children are concerned, most German households had *** children under the age of 18.

Child benefits

In many ways, Germany is a country which encourages and supports the population in having children, also financially. Monthly child benefit payments increase with more offspring. Single parents are also eligible for an alimony advance until their child turns **, if not being financially supported by the second parent.