The German System of Social Indicators

The System of Social Indicators is designed to monitor welfare developments and social change in the Federal Republic of Germany. The System is continuously updated and extended by the staff of the Social Indicators Department. Above all, the German System of Social Indicators serves as an observational grid that is used to monitor social developments in this society. It does so by providing data, which allow the regular measurement, description and analysis of the status quo as well as the development of the objective living conditions and the subjective quality of life of its citizens. The System includes almost 400 indicators with a total of more than 3000 time series that are currently arranged into 14 political- and life domains. The period of observation starts at the beginning of the 1950's and covers the entire time span until up to the present day. Since most of the times series data are disaggregated according to various socio-demographic characteristics, the indicator system also offers information on the social situations of specific subgroups of the population as well as on the inequality of living conditions in general.

A selection of 89 Key Indicators offers a compact overview of societal developments in Germany.