About 2.5 million families live in North Rhine-Westphalia. They differ in their lifestyles and household structures, their educational and employment histories, and their immigration backgrounds. Family life in the state is more colorful and diverse than ever before.
The state government’s new report on families shows that families in North Rhine-Westphalia today live in a variety of family structures and living arrangements. While the majority of children continue to grow up in families with married parents, other family structures have gained in importance.
About one-third of children are raised by single parents, in unmarried couples, or, for example, in blended or rainbow families.
When it comes to children’s well-being, it is not the specific family structure that matters most, but rather stable relationships, reliable care, and a supportive environment.
Different immigration histories also shape family diversity: Nearly one in two families with minor children has a history of migration. Many parents immigrated themselves, while a large proportion of their children were born in Germany. For numerous families, multilingualism is a natural part of everyday life. At the same time, families with a migration background differ significantly in terms of their origins, languages, and life circumstances, as well as their religious and transnational affiliations.
This diversity makes it clear that families’ needs cannot be determined solely by their family structure or background. Family policy, public administration, and support services therefore face the challenge of taking different life paths and circumstances into account, rather than assuming a uniform image of the family.
You can download the state government’s Family Report here as an accessible PDF for free. You can find a condensed version of the findings in the online edition of the Family Report.
