Spending on social welfare in Germany is projected to increase by 6.1% in 2025, climbing to €21.5 billion, with significant growth in care assistance costs.

The cost of social welfare programs in Germany is expected to rise substantially in 2025, reaching €21.5 billion, a 6.1% increase compared to the previous year. This sharp growth highlights continued pressures on the nation’s social safety net, according to newly released data.

Services aimed at providing care assistance saw the most significant increase, with spending jumping by 13.3% to €6 billion. This category now accounts for 27.8% of the total social welfare expenditure, marking its third consecutive year of growth. The base income support for the elderly and individuals with reduced earning capacity remains the largest budget item, costing €11.8 billion—a 2.9% rise from 2024—though its proportional share has declined for three years straight.

Additional allocations included €1.7 billion for basic subsistence aid, a 4.4% increase, and €2 billion for health-related and hardship assistance programs. It’s important to note that these figures exclude other financial aid schemes, such as citizen income, which are independently tracked under separate budget categories.