Approximately one out of every six individuals struggle to afford a vacation. - Six out of every ten individuals struggle to save up for a holiday.
Germany's Vacation Affordability and Poverty Rates: East vs. West
Vacation affordability and poverty rates in Germany vary significantly across its federal states, with a clear divide between eastern and western regions. According to recent data, Saxony, a state in eastern Germany, has a higher at-risk-of-poverty rate compared to Lower Saxony, a western state.
Poverty Rates
As of 2023, the overall at-risk-of-poverty rate was slightly higher in East Germany (including Saxony) at about 17%, compared to 16.7% in West Germany where Lower Saxony is located. Historically, poverty rates differ significantly by state. For example, in 2005, only about 3.9% of citizens in Bavarian states were impoverished, but in Berlin (an eastern-region city-state), the rate was much higher at 15.2%.
Saxony's economic output (Gross Regional Product, GRP) was notably lower (€146.5 billion) than Lower Saxony’s (€339.4 billion) in 2022, reflecting relative economic strength.
Vacation Affordability
Although no direct statistics on vacation affordability by state were found, economic factors suggest that higher poverty rates and lower income in eastern states like Saxony could limit household ability to afford vacations. The economic contraction and rising shadow economy in Germany in 2024 and 2025, alongside freezes or inadequacies in social benefits, likely constrain discretionary spending such as vacations.
Lower Saxony, with a stronger economy and higher GRP, may have relatively higher vacation affordability, but exact percentages or survey data are not available.
Single Parent Households
In Saxony, 18.4% of households could not afford a week's vacation in 2023, an increase from 16.4% the previous year. In comparison, 42.8% of single parent households in North Rhine-Westphalia cannot afford a week's vacation per year. Leipzig, a city in Lower Saxony, is among the locations with a high proportion of single parent households unable to afford a week's vacation. According to the Federal Statistical Office's evaluation, one in six people in Saxony cannot afford a week's vacation per year.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, 55.7% of single parent households cannot afford a week's vacation per year, while in Bremen, the figure was 34.2%. Bavaria had the lowest proportion among the federal states, with 14.2% of households unable to afford a week's vacation. However, specific figures for single parent households in cities like Wiesbaden (in Hesse) and Bremen regarding vacation affordability are not available, as they are not among the six most populous states for which reliable state-specific numbers are available.
The shadow economy expanding to over 11% of total German economic output also reflects hidden economic pressures that may impact household disposable income. Germany's social security benefits (Citizen’s Income) increased in 2023 and 2024 but were frozen in 2025, raising concerns about adequacy for low-income households, especially single-parent families.
In summary, while no direct state-level vacation affordability data were found, economic and poverty indicators suggest households in Saxony face more constraints than those in Lower Saxony, particularly for single parent households. For more precise state-specific data on household poverty or vacation affordability, specialized regional surveys or government reports would be required.
Community aid could be essential in providing financial support for single parent households in Saxony, enabling them to meet their basic needs and potentially afford a week's vacation. In light of rising poverty rates and the shadow economy impacting household disposable income, personal-finance advice might also be beneficial for low-income individuals and families in these areas.
