Discussion on the escalating impoverishment of the elderly population in Saarland
The Saarbrücken Saarland Poverty Conference (SAK) is set to host an event titled "The Forgotten Generation" on September 17, 2025, at Salon Rosa, Futterstraße 17-19, Saarbrücken. This event aims to shed light on the growing issue of elderly poverty in Germany.
Germany is currently facing a significant rise in the number of elderly people at risk of poverty and social exclusion. According to recent figures from the Federal Statistical Office and the poverty report of Parität, approximately 5.7 million elderly people in Germany are at risk, a figure that has increased from about 4.9 million in 2010.
The event will delve into the social and economic challenges faced by older adults, focusing on their living realities. This includes the impact of insufficient pensions, unemployment among older workers, and rising living costs.
Germany’s aging population intensifies this issue. The pension system is increasingly strained, with fewer workers supporting more retirees—currently fewer than two contributors per pensioner, down from 2.7 contributors in 1992 and projected to decline further by 2050. By 2025, two-thirds of the Labor Ministry’s budget may be devoted to pensions.
Another concern is the high number of elderly Germans living alone. Over one-third of people aged 65+ live alone, and for those 85+, this rises to 56%. About 29% of solo dwellers, many of whom are elderly, are at risk of poverty, nearly double the general population rate.
The event at the SAK 2025 aligns with ongoing debates about pension system reform and social welfare to support the elderly. The event's title, "The Forgotten Generation," underlines the societal risk of neglecting these issues amid demographic shifts and financial strain.
Michael Leinenbach, chairman of the SAK, will moderate the event. Further details about the participants in the discussion are not yet available. The event begins with a "come together" at 5:40 PM, followed by the discussion at 6:00 PM.
As the event approaches, monitoring official Saarbrücken Saarland Poverty Conference communications or their website for updates on the program and participants is recommended.
- The event "The Forgotten Generation" addressing the growing issue of elderly poverty in Germany, hosted by the Saarbrücken Saarland Poverty Conference (SAK) in September 2025, will dive into the social and economic challenges faced by older adults, such as insufficient pensions, unemployment among older workers, and rising living costs, which are especially concerning given Germany's aging population and the increasing strain on the pension system.
- The title of the SAK 2025 event, "The Forgotten Generation," highlights the societal risk of neglecting the issues facing older adults in Germany, as they face rising numbers at risk of poverty and social exclusion, particularly among those living alone, with about 29% of solo dwellers, many of whom are elderly, at risk of poverty.
