Immigrant and Native Children in Germany

Abstract

Resident foreign citizens in Germany, a country that cannot deny its character as a country of immigration, number around 6.7 million out of Germany’s total population of 82.4 million inhabitants. Relative to the native population, the age structure among people with migration background is shifted considerably younger. The share of children living with parents who have a migration background is quite large: More than 1 million children under 17 years of age are foreign citizens. This paper draws a portrait of immigrant children in comparison to native children. Data being analysed for this purpose make clear that children with migration background are disadvantaged in most sectors of life: Large shares of these children grow up in households with difficult financial straits and under less than optimal housing conditions. Young children with migration background face disadvantages in preschool and many are held back due to limited German language proficiency. Children and youth in foreign-born families tend to start school later and repeat classes more often. Children with migration background are not adequately supplied with health care, mainly because they and their parents less often participate in early diagnosis and preventive care. Youth with migration background are more involved in violent crimes.