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SOCIETY
abilities are taking an ever greater role in so-
2.7 million), almost one in six in Germany is
cial life.
at risk of poverty, particularly young people
and single parents. Moreover, social differ-
Demographic and socioeconomic
ences continue to exist between east and
change
west.
In future, demographic change is set to
shape Germany more than virtually any
other development. The birth rate has been
constantly low since the late 1990s at 1.4
children per woman, and life expectancy is
rising. By 2050 the population in Germany is
estimated to shrink by around seven million
people. At the same time, the growing num-
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ber of elderly people is presenting social welfare systems with new challenges.
Socioeconomic change in Germany in re-
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international skilled workers
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cent years has led to the emergence of new
social risks and stronger social diversification according to economic living conditions. Although in 2014 unemployment was
at the same low level as in 1991 (on average
Demographic change is presenting the nation with major challenges
Human Development Reports
Where does Germany stand on a global
comparison?
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