Germany’s position in the global child well-being rankings has fallen sharply, dropping to 25th place in 2022 from 14th just two years prior, according to a UNICEF Children’s Fund report. The Netherlands, Denmark, and France secured the top three spots.
The study highlights the importance of children’s own assessments of their lives. While about 75% of German teenagers reported being satisfied with their lives in 2018, that number decreased to 68% by 2022. The report also notes a decline in basic academic skills, with only 60% of German schoolchildren demonstrating proficiency in math and reading in 2022, down from 73% in 2018.
UNICEF urged German authorities to enhance their focus on the mental and physical health of children. This includes better coordination between schools and support services. The report also emphasizes the need for increased investment in children from socially vulnerable families, particularly through the expansion of after-school care programs.
The study further reveals that living and developmental conditions for children worsened across almost all EU and OECD countries between 2018 and 2022. Even nations with high incomes are facing “difficulties in creating conditions for a good childhood and a promising future.”
