Germany has one of the world’s best healthcare systems and has Europe’s largest expenditure on healthcare.
But just how much does Germany actually spend on healthcare?
In this report we’ll unpack the latest data on German health expenditure, where that money is sourced from, how it is spent and who it employs.
German healthcare statistics – Our top picks
- Germany allocates the highest share of GDP to healthcare in Europe, at 12.8%.
- Only seven countries spend more per capita on healthcare than Germany, which spends €5,832 per person.
- Circulatory system diseases and cancer are the leading causes of death in Germany, accounting for 33.88% and 22.40%, respectively.
- In 2023, nearly 6.1 million people were employed in Germany’s healthcare sector.
- Approximately 63,763 foreign-born doctors are currently working within the German healthcare system.
German population statistics
According to the latest official estimates from the Statistisches Bundesamt, Germany’s population stood at 83,510,950 as of June 2024—an increase of 0.05% or 41,026 people compared to the previous estimate from March 2024.
Men made up 49.3% of the population, while women accounted for 50.7%.
German citizens comprised 85.3% of the total population, with the remaining 14.7% consisting of non-German residents living in the country.
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis).
German life expectancy
The average life expectancy in Germany is currently 81.2 years.
Women in Germany live on average 83 years, while men have a life expectancy of 78.2 years.
These figures place Germany below the life expectancy averages of countries like Italy, Switzerland, and Spain.
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Ined
What is the leading cause of death in Germany?
In 2023, the leading cause of death in Germany was diseases of the circulatory system, accounting for 33.88% of all deaths nationwide.
Cancer was the second leading cause, responsible for 22.4% of deaths.
Injuries, including those caused by accidents, accounted for less than 5% of all deaths.
Lifestyle-related illnesses are a significant factor influencing life expectancy in Germany.
Among adults over the age of 65, 41% of men and 47% of women live with a chronic health condition.
Hypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses, affecting 29.7% of Germans aged 30 to 79.
Additionally, 20.4% of German adults are classified as obese.
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), OECD/European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, World Health Organisation
How much does Germany spend on healthcare?
In 2023, Germany’s total health expenditure amounted to approximately €494.65 billion.
In 2023, Germany’s total health expenditure amounted to approximately €494.65 billion.
The largest share—56.3% (€279.08 billion)—was funded through Statutory Health Insurance contributions.
Private Health Insurance accounted for 8.5% of total spending.
Private household and non-profit spending made up the second largest funding source at 12%, narrowly ahead of Social Long-Term Care Insurance, which contributed 11.8%.
Germany’s healthcare spending represents 12.8% of the country’s GDP—the highest in the European Union both in terms of total expenditure and as a share of national GDP.
Here’s a breakdown of Germany’s healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP since 2009:
On average, Germany spends €5,832 per capita on healthcare—ranking eighth highest in Europe.
Per capita healthcare expenditure has grown steadily, rising from €3,499 in 2009.
Sources: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Eurostat
Where does Germany spend its healthcare budget?
Nursing and other therapeutic services represent the largest portion of Germany’s health expenditure at 16.2%. This includes services provided both in hospitals and across other in-patient and out-patient care facilities.
Here is a detailed breakdown of how Germany spends its healthcare budget:
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)
How many health insurance funds are there in Germany?
Health insurance has been a legal requirement in Germany since 2007, with all residents required to obtain coverage. The two main types are statutory (public) health insurance and private health insurance.
As of 2023, there are 96 statutory health insurance funds in Germany, covering around 87% of the population.
The largest statutory health insurance providers are:
- Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) – 11.8 million members
- BARMER – 8.5 million members
- DAK Gesundheit – 5.5 million members
Here is a full ranking of the ten largest public health insurance funds in Germany by number of customers.
Sources: Feather, Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Euro-Informationen
How popular is private health insurance in Germany?
Around 44 private health insurers serve the 13% of Germans who opt out of statutory coverage.
The largest private providers are:
- DKV – over 4.29 million customers
- Debeka – 4.24 million customers
Here is a list of the ten largest private health insurers in Germany by customer base:
Private health insurance is particularly popular among:
- Civil servants – 88% are privately insured
- Self-employed individuals – 56% opt for private insurance
- General population – 13% are privately insured
Sources: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Euro-Informationen, Bertelsmann Stifftung
How many Germans do not have health insurance?
Despite mandatory coverage, an estimated 0.1% to 0.7% of the population remains uninsured.
Young men aged 15–24 are the most likely demographic to be without insurance.
Sources: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), OECD/European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
How big is Germany’s healthcare sector?
In 2023, nearly 6.1 million people were employed in healthcare. Of these:
- 74.6% were women
- Approximately 15% were aged 60 or older
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)
Who are the biggest employers of German healthcare workers?
- Out-patient services employ the largest share at 21.8%
- In-patient care services are the second largest employer at 19.2%
Here is a full sector breakdown of healthcare employment:
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)
How many doctors and nurses does Germany have?
As of 2023, Germany employed over 420,000 physicians, with men slightly outnumbering women in the profession.
Germany has 12 nurses per 1,000 residents (EU average: 8.5) There are 4.5 practicing doctors per 1,000 residents (EU average: 4.1)
Approximately 63,763 foreign-born doctors work in Germany, primarily from other European and Middle Eastern countries. Here is a breakdown of the countries with the most foreign doctors working in Germany:
Sources: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), OECD/European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, German Medical Association
How many hospitals are in Germany?
As of 2023, Germany had 1,874 hospitals offering 476,924 beds.
This reflects a steady decline from 2,411 hospitals in 1991.
The average hospital stay has also decreased, with a 2023 average of 7.2 days per admission.
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)
How many people are hospitalized in Germany?
In 2023, more than 17.2 million patients were treated in German hospitals.
98% of these cases involved admissions longer than one day.
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)
What are the most common reasons for hospital stays in Germany?
Diseases of the circulatory system were the most common reason for hospitalisation in 2023 accounting for nearly 30% of in-hospital diagnoses. Cancers were the next most-common reason at 20% followed by diseases of the respiratory system at 13.8%.
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)
Sick leave statistics in Germany
In 2023, employees in Germany reported an average of 15.1 sick days, up from 11.2 days in 2021.
On average, 6.1% of employees were on sick leave at any given time.
Mental health-related sick leave is rising:
- Jan–Jun 2023: 159 sick days per 100 insured due to mental illness
- Jan–Jun 2024: 182 sick days
Among women, 21% of sick leave is due to mental illness, compared to 14.5% among men.
Sources: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), DAK Health Report
