Poverty, wealth and income: Wealth thresholds in Germany, 2005-2017
In 2017, every person living alone with a monthly net income of more than 3,332 euros was deemed income-rich. The wealth threshold for single-person households in Germany rose continually1 between 2005 and 2017. It went up by 880 euros in that period. This upward trend is due to the median incomes rising over time.
The wealth threshold for families with two children also rose constantly from 2005 to 2017, increasing by 1,847 euros in that period. In 2017, all households with two adults and two children were deemed income-rich if their monthly net income was at least 6,996 euros.
Until 2011 the data were based on the census in 1987. Since then the census 2011 has been used for the calculations. Therefore, data before and after 2011 are not fully comparable.
Further explanations
Income wealth: an income-rich person is one whose equivalised net income is above the wealth threshold, i.e. more than 200 per cent of the median equivalised net income of the population in private households. Hence relative income wealth describes a marked surpassing of the average living standard.
Wealth threshold: the wealth threshold is 200 per cent of the median equivalised net income of the population in private households.
References
Regionaler Sozialbericht Berlin und Brandenburg 2013