eleven - Living conditions of immigrant children in Germany

Summary

Introduction

In 1995, the proportion of foreign-born persons in Gemany was about 9% of the entire population1; in West Germany, where more or less all the immigrants are living, the proportion of foreign born is about 12%. As a result of this, the number of children born to immigrants is of a significant magnitude, especially since the fertility rate among immigrant women is higher than that among native German women (cf Deutscher Bundestag, 1998a, p 55ff). But, despite an ongoing influx of immigrants, Germany does not consider itself an ‘immigrant society’.

Due to the specific German regulations on granting citizenship, children born to foreign immigrants in Germany are considered as ‘immigrant children’ regardless of their respective place of birth (abroad or within Germany after their parents immigrated). In contrast to countries like the United States, where citizenship is granted to people born within the US (ius solis), children born in Germany do not automatically receive German citizenship. Instead they receive the nationality of their parents (ius sanguinis).

The most relevant immigrant groups in Germany are made up of migrant workers from Mediterranean countries who came during the period from the 1960s to the early 1970s (so-called guestworkers) and of immigrants from Eastern Europe since the fall of the Berlin wall in October 1989, especially ‘Ethnic Germans’ (Aussiedler). As a result of the specific German concept of ethnicity and citizenship, it is worthwhile differentiating immigrant children. Figure 11.1 shows our concept of ‘immigration status’ based on the combination of citizenship and country of birth of children and their parents.

The aim of this chapter is to describe and analyse short and long-term prospects for children in Germany. The Kinder-und Jugendbericht (child and youth report) for 1998 shows clear signs of a worsening economic situation for children in Germany. Unfortunately, this official report fails to provide sufficient information on immigrant children. The proportion of children living in households receiving welfare increased to about 7% in 1997, about twice that for the entire population. The report also states that the positive correlation of child poverty with (future) malnutrition, drug abuse, crime intensity and so on, requires an improvement and a targeting of social policy.