 Frankfurt, thefinancial centre of Germany, seat of theEuropean Central Bank and one of the major financial centres in Europe | |
| Currency | Euro (EUR, €) |
|---|---|
| Calendar year | |
Trade organisations | EU,WTO,G-20,G7 andOECD |
Country group |
|
| Statistics | |
| Population | 83,445,000 (2024est.)[6] |
| GDP | |
| GDP rank | |
GDP growth | |
GDP per capita | |
GDP per capita rank | |
GDP by sector |
|
GDP by component |
|
Population belowpoverty line |  21.1% at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE 2024)[9] |
 29.5low (2024)[10] | |
 75 out of 100 points (2024)[12] (rank 15th) | |
Labour force | |
Labour force by occupation |
|
| Unemployment | |
Average gross salary | €5,274 monthly (2024)[15][16] |
| €3,300 monthly (2024)[15][16] | |
Main industries | |
| External | |
| Exports | $1.66 trillion (2024)[17] |
Export goods | motor vehicles, machinery, chemicals, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, metals, transport equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, rubber and plastic products |
Main export partners |
|
| Imports | $1.4 trillion (2024)[17] |
Import goods | machinery, data processing equipment, vehicles, chemicals, oil and gas, metals, electric equipment, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, agricultural products |
Main import partners |
|
FDI stock | |
Grossexternal debt | $5.4 trillion (2022)[18] |
| Public finances | |
| $400 billion (2022)[20] | |
| Revenues | 46.1% of GDP (2023)[19] |
| Expenses | 48.6% of GDP (2023)[19] |
| Economic aid |
|
All values, unless otherwise stated, are inUS dollars. | |
Germany has ahighly developedsocial market economy.[26] It is the largest national economy inEurope, thethird-largest by nominal GDP in the world, and thesixth-largest by PPP-adjusted GDP. Due to a volatile currencyexchange rate, Germany's GDP as measured in dollars fluctuates sharply, but it is among the world's top 4 since 1960.[27] In 2025, the country accounted for 23.7% of the Euro area economy according to theInternational Monetary Fund (IMF).[28] Germany is a founding member of theEuropean Union and theeurozone.[29][30]
Germany is thethird-largest exporter globally with $1.66 trillion worth of goods and services exported in 2024. In 2024, Germany recorded atrade surplus worth $255 billion, ranking2nd worldwide. Theservice sector contributes around 70% of the total GDP, industry 29.1%, and agriculture 0.9%. Exports accounted for 50.3% of national output.[31][32] The top 10exports of Germany are vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, basic metals, food products, and rubber and plastics.[33] Germany is thelargest manufacturing economy in Europe, contributing around one third of all manufacturing in Europe,[34] which makes it more resilient to global economic crises.[35] Germany conducts applied research with practical industrial value and sees itself as a bridge between the latest university insights and industry-specific product and process improvements. It generates a great deal of knowledge in its own laboratories.[36] AmongOECD members, Germany has a highly efficient and strongsocial security system, which comprisesroughly 25% of GDP.[5][37][4]
Germany is rich intimber,lignite,potash, andsalt. Some minor sources ofnatural gas are being exploited in the state ofLower Saxony. UntilGerman reunification, theGerman Democratic Republic mined foruranium in theOre Mountains (see also:SAG/SDAG Wismut).Energy in Germany is sourced predominantly byfossil fuels (30%), withwind power in second place, then gas, solar, biomass (wood and biofuels), and hydro.[38] Germany is the first major industrialised nation to commit to the renewableenergy transition calledEnergiewende. Renewables produced 46% of electricity consumed in Germany (as of 2019).[39] Germany has been called "the world's first majorrenewable energy economy".[40][41] Germany has the world'ssecond-largest gold reserve, with over 3,000 tonnes of gold.[42] As of 2023, Germany spendsaround 3.1% of GDP, third among major economies, onresearch and development.[43][44] It is also the world'ssecond-largest high-technology exporter and ranks in thetop 10 of countries by stock market capitalization.[45][46]
More than 99 percent of all German companies belong to the German "Mittelstand",[47] small and medium-sized enterprises, which are mostly family-owned. These companies represent 48% of the global market leaders in their segments, labelledhidden champions.[48] Of the world's 500 largest publicly listed companies measured byrevenue, theFortune Global 500, 29 are headquartered in Germany, as are26 of Europe's 100 largest. Germany is home to manyfinancial centres and economically important cities, such asBerlin,Hamburg,Munich,Cologne,Frankfurt, andStuttgart. Four German banks are among thebiggest in the world. Germany is the world's top location for trade fairs;[49] around two thirds of the world's leading trade fairs take place in Germany.[50] Some of the largest international trade fairs and congresses are held in several German cities such asHanover, Frankfurt, Cologne,Leipzig, andDüsseldorf.
TheIndustrial Revolution in Germany got underway approximately a century later than in the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium, partly because Germany only became aunified country in 1871.[51]
![The LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin of DELAG, the world's first airline[52]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aZeppelinLZ127a.jpg)
The establishment of theDeutscherZollverein (German Customs Union) in 1834 and the expansion of railway systems were the main drivers of Germany's industrial development and political union. From 1834, tariff barriers between increasing numbers of theKleindeutschland German states were eliminated.[citation needed] In 1835 the first German railway linked theFranconian cities ofNuremberg andFürth – it proved so successful that the decade of the 1840s saw "railway mania" in all the German states. Between 1845 and 1870, 8,000 kilometres (5,000 mi) of rail had been built and in 1850 Germany was building its own locomotives. Over time, other German states joined the customs union and started linking their railroads, which began to connect the corners of Germany. The growth of free trade and a rail system across Germany intensified economic development which opened up new markets for local products, created a pool ofmiddle managers,[clarification needed] increased the demand for engineers, architects, and skilled machinists, and stimulated investments in coal and iron.[53]
Another factor that propelled German industry forward was the unification of the monetary system, made possible in part by political unification. The Deutsche Mark, a new monetary coinage system backed by gold, was introduced in 1871. However, this system did not fully come into use as silver coins retained their value until 1907.[citation needed]
The victory ofPrussia and her allies overNapoleon III of France in theFranco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 marked the end of French hegemony in Europe and resulted in the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871. The establishment of the empire inherently presented Europe with the reality of a new populous and industrialising polity possessing a considerable, and undeniably increasing, economic and diplomatic presence. The influence of French economic principles produced important institutional reforms in Germany, including the abolition of feudal restrictions on the sale of large landed estates, the reduction of the power of the guilds in the cities, and the introduction of a new, more efficient commercial law. Nonetheless, political decisions about the economy of the empire were still largely controlled by acoalition of "rye and iron", that is thePrussian Junker landowners of the east and theRuhr heavy industry of the west.[54]
Regarding politics and society, between 1881 and 1889 ChancellorOtto von Bismarck promoted laws that providedsocial insurance and improved working conditions. He instituted the world's firstwelfare state. Germany was the first to introduce social insurance programmes including universal healthcare, compulsory education, sickness insurance, accident insurance, disability insurance, and a retirement pension. Moreover, the government's universal education policy bore fruit with Germany achieving[when?] the highest literacy rate in the world – 99% – education levels that provided the nation with more people good at handling numbers, more engineers, chemists, opticians, skilled workers for its factories, skilled managers, knowledgeable farmers, and skilled military personnel.[55]
By 1900, Germany surpassedBritain in steel production and became the largest producer behind only theUnited States. The German economic miracle was also intensified by unprecedented population growth from 35 million in 1850 to 67 million in 1913. From 1895 to 1907, the number of workers engaged in machine building doubled from half a million to well over a million. Only 40 percent of Germans lived in rural areas by 1910, a drop from 67% at the birth of the Empire. Industry accounted for 60 percent of the gross national product in 1913.[56] The German chemical industry became the most advanced in the world, and by 1914 the country was producing half the world's electrical equipment.
The rapid advance to industrial maturity led to a drastic shift in Germany's economic situation – from a rural economy into a major exporter of finished goods. The ratio of the finished product to total exports jumped from 38% in 1872 to 63% in 1912. By 1913 Germany had come to dominate all the European markets. By 1914 Germany had become one of the biggest exporters in the world.[57]
The Nazis rose to power while unemployment was very high,[58] but achievedfull employment later thanks to massive public works programmes such as theReichsbahn,Reichspost, and theReichsautobahn projects.[59] In 1935rearmament in contravention of theTreaty of Versailles added to the economy.[58][60]
The post-1931 financial crisis economic policies ofexpansionary fiscal policies (as Germany was off thegold standard) was advised by their non-Nazi Minister of Economics,Hjalmar Schacht,[58] who in 1933 became the president of the central bank. Schacht later resigned from the post in 1938 and was replaced byHermann Göring.
The trading policies of the Third Reich aimed atself-sufficiency but with a lack of raw materials Germany would have to maintain trade links but onbilateral preferences,foreign exchange controls,import quotas, andexport subsidies under what was called the "New Plan"(Neuer Plan) of 19 September 1934.[61] The "New Plan" was based on trade with less developed countries who would trade raw materials for German industrial goods saving currency.[62]Southern Europe was preferable to Western Europe and North America as there could be no trade blockades.[63] This policy became known as theGrosswirtschaftsraum ("greater economic area") policy.
Eventually, the Nazi party developed strong relationships withbig business[64] and abolishedtrade unions in 1933 in order to form theReich Labour Service (RAD),German Labour Front (DAF) to set working hours,Beauty of Labour (SDA) which set working conditions, andStrength through Joy (KDF) to ensure sports clubs for workers.[65]
Beginning with thereplacement of theReichsmark with theDeutsche Mark as legal tender, a lasting period of low inflation and rapid industrial growth was overseen by the government led byGerman ChancellorKonrad Adenauer and his minister of economics,Ludwig Erhard, raising West Germany from total wartime devastation to one of the most developed nations in modern Europe.
In 1953 it was decided that Germany was to repay $1.1 billion of the aid it had received. The last repayment was made in June 1971.
Apart from these factors, hard work and long hours at full capacity among the population in the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s and extra labour supplied by thousands ofGastarbeiter ("guest workers") provided a vital base for the economic upturn.
By the early 1950s, the Soviet Union had seized reparations in the form of agricultural and industrial products and demanded further heavy reparation payments.[66]Silesia with theUpper Silesian Coal Basin, andStettin, a prominent natural port, were lost toPoland.
Exports from West Germany exceeded $323 billion in 1988. In the same year, East Germany exported $30.7 billion worth of goods; 65% to other communist states.[67] East Germany had zero unemployment.[67]
Car markers like theAutomobilwerk Eisenach and theHQM Sachsenring GmbH produced icons of the East German economy like theTrabant line and theWartburg line.
The German economy practically stagnated in the beginning of the 2000s. The worst growth figures were achieved in 2002 (+1.4%), in 2003 (+1.0%), and in 2005 (+1.4%).[68] Unemployment was also chronically high.[69] Due to these problems, together withGermany's aging population, the welfare system came under considerable strain. This led the government to push through a wide-ranging programme of belt-tightening reforms,Agenda 2010, including the labour market reforms known asHartz I - IV.[69]
In the later part of the first decade of 2000, the world economy experienced high growth, from which Germany as a leading exporter also profited. Some credit the Hartz reforms with achieving high growth and declining unemployment but others contend that they resulted in a massive decrease in standards of living and that its effects are limited and temporary.[69]
The nominal GDP of Germany contracted in the second and third quarters of 2008, putting the country in a technical recession following a global andEuropean recession cycle.[70] German industrial output dropped to 3.6% in September vis-à-vis August.[71][72] In January 2009 the German government underAngela Merkel approved a €50 billion ($70 billion) economic stimulus plan to protect several sectors from a downturn and a subsequent rise in unemployment rates.[73] Germany exited the recession in the second and third quarters of 2009, mostly due to rebounding manufacturing orders and exports - primarily from outside the eurozone - and relatively steady consumer demand.[69]
Germany is a founding member of the EU, theG8, and theG20, and was the world's largest exporter from 2003 to 2008. In 2011 it remained thethird largest exporter[74] and third largest importer.[75] Most of the country's exports are in engineering, especially machinery, automobiles, chemical goods, and metals.[69] Germany is a leading producer of wind turbines and solar-power technology.[76] Annual trade fairs and congresses are held in cities throughout Germany.[77] 2011 was a record-breaking year for the German economy. German companies exported goods worth over €1 trillion ($1.3 trillion), the highest figure in history. The number of people in work has risen to 41.6 million, the highest recorded figure.[78]
Through 2012, Germany's economy continued to be stronger relative to local neighbouring nations.[79] In 2023, Germany experienced economic difficulties as a result of the closure of Russian natural gas resources due tointernational sanctions following theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[80] Germany imported 55% of its gas from Russia at the time when Russia started the invasion in 2022.[81] Amid aglobal energy crisis, ChancellorOlaf Scholz committed to weaken dependence onRussian energy imports by halting certification ofNord Stream 2, while also committing to his long-term predecessor Angela Merkel's policy ofphasing out nuclear energy.[82][83][81]
As of December 2023, Germany is the third largest economy innominal terms in the world after the United States and China, and the largest economy in Europe. It is the third largest export nation in the world.[84]
In April 2024, a report by theGerman Economic Institute revealed that despite attempts to expand into other markets, the German economy remains heavily reliant on China for various products and raw materials.[85]
During 2024, the German economy experienced its second consecutive year of contraction. Europe's largest economy declined by 0.2% over the year,[86] following a 0.3% contraction in 2023. Germany's trade surplus with the United States, reported byReuters to have reached a record €65 billion (£54.7 billion) during the first 11 months of 2024, has made the nation a likely target for potential tariffs from Donald Trump's administration.[87] The economic climate has also been affected by widespread layoffs across major German corporations. Companies such as Siemens, Bosch, Thyssenkrupp, and Deutsche Bahn, all featured in the Fortune 500, are estimated to have collectively cut over 60,000 jobs during the first 10 months of 2024.[88] Bosch, a highly regarded manufacturing firm, announced in November alone plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 7,000 employees.[89]
The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2024 (with IMF staff estimates in 2025–2029). Inflation below 5% is in green.[90]
| Year | GDP (Bil. US$PPP) | GDP per capita (US$ PPP) | GDP (Bil. US$nominal) | GDP per capita (US$ nominal) | GDP growth (real) | Inflation rate (Percent) | Unemployment (Percent) | Government debt (in % of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 922.4 | 12,003.5 | 856.8 | 11,150.4 |  1.3 | 5.4 | 3.4 | n/a |
| 1981 | 1,010.8 | 13,128.9 | 720.9 | 9,363.8 | 0.1 | 6.3 | 4.8 | n/a |
| 1982 | 1,064.8 | 13,840.2 | 696.1 | 9,048.0 | -0.8 | 5.3 | 6.7 | n/a |
| 1983 | 1,123.7 | 14,656.9 | 694.4 | 9,058.3 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 8.1 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1,197.1 | 15,678.3 | 654.3 | 8,569.0 | 2.8 | 2.4 |  8.1 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1,262.0 | 16,569.6 | 663.5 | 8,710.7 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 8.1 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1,318.6 | 17,299.9 | 947.6 | 12,432.4 | 2.4 | -0.1 | 7.8 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1,371.1 | 17,985.8 | 1,179.2 | 15,468.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 7.8 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1,472.5 | 19,198.8 | 1,271.3 | 16,575.2 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 7.7 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1,590.1 | 20,527.2 | 1,262.0 | 16,291.6 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 6.8 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1,744.0 | 22,090.7 | 1,604.5 | 20,323.3 | 5.7 | 2.7 | 6.2 | n/a |
| 1991 | 1,893.4 | 23,675.1 | 1,882.5 | 23,539.0 | 5.0 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 38.8 |
| 1992 | 1,975.5 | 24,541.0 | 2,146.1 | 26,660.2 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 6.6 | 41.3 |
| 1993 | 2,002.5 | 24,739.0 | 2,080.1 | 25,697.1 | -1.0 | 4.5 | 7.8 | 44.9 |
| 1994 | 2,098.4 | 25,859.6 | 2,220.2 | 27,359.7 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 8.4 | 47.3 |
| 1995 | 2,174.8 | 26,747.9 | 2,595.3 | 31,919.0 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 8.2 | 54.7 |
| 1996 | 2,237.4 | 27,464.3 | 2,507.4 | 30,779.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 8.9 | 57.6 |
| 1997 | 2,318.3 | 28,441.6 | 2,221.5 | 27,254.4 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 9.7 | 58.7 |
| 1998 | 2,393.6 | 29,389.3 | 2,250.8 | 27,636.1 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 9.4 | 59.3 |
| 1999 | 2,479.1 | 30,447.8 | 2,216.1 | 27,217.0 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 8.6 | 59.9 |
| 2000 | 2,608.3 | 32,020.9 | 1,967.9 | 24,158.2 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 8.0 | 58.8 |
| 2001 | 2,710.6 | 33,252.0 | 1,966.4 | 24,122.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 7.8 | 57.6 |
| 2002 | 2,746.5 | 33,666.4 | 2,100.9 | 25,752.7 | -0.2 | 1.3 | 8.6 | 59.3 |
| 2003 | 2,785.7 | 34,159.4 | 2,534.1 | 31,074.3 | -0.5 | 1.1 | 9.7 | 62.7 |
| 2004 | 2,894.1 | 35,529.1 | 2,851.0 | 35,000.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 10.3 | 64.3 |
| 2005 | 3,011.2 | 37,021.2 | 2,895.0 | 35,592.7 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 11.0 | 66.5 |
| 2006 | 3,223.9 | 39,716.2 | 3,046.5 | 37,530.2 | 3.9 | 1.8 | 10.0 | 65.8 |
| 2007 | 3,406.8 | 42,063.6 | 3,484.5 | 43,022.0 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 8.5 | 63.1 |
| 2008 | 3,504.1 | 43,386.4 | 3,808.4 | 47,154.0 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 7.4 | 64.6 |
| 2009 | 3,330.1 | 41,376.4 | 3,476.0 | 43,189.4 | -5.5 | 0.2 | 7.2 | 71.7 |
| 2010 | 3,510.3 | 43,723.6 | 3,471.0 | 43,233.5 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 6.6 | 80.4 |
| 2011 | 3,717.6 | 46,310.6 | 3,824.2 | 47,637.9 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 5.5 | 77.8 |
| 2012 | 3,804.6 | 47,305.3 | 3,600.2 | 44,763.5 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 5.1 | 79.2 |
| 2013 | 3,884.3 | 48,164.5 | 3,808.1 | 47,220.3 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 5.0 | 76.8 |
| 2014 | 4,037.8 | 49,859.4 | 3,966.8 | 48,983.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 4.7 | 73.8 |
| 2015 | 4,142.7 | 50,714.4 | 3,423.9 | 41,914.9 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 4.4 | 70.6 |
| 2016 | 4,277.8 | 51,947.7 | 3,536.8 | 42,949.1 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 3.9 | 67.6 |
| 2017 | 4,472.6 | 54,110.3 | 3,761.8 | 45,510.5 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 64.0 |
| 2018 | 4,665.4 | 56,273.3 | 4,053.8 | 48,897.2 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 60.7 |
| 2019 | 4,925.0 | 59,270.7 | 3,957.6 | 47,629.1 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 58.6 |
| 2020 | 4,880.4 | 58,685.8 | 3,937.0 | 47,341.8 | -4.1 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 67.9 |
| 2021 | 5,237.2 | 62,950.3 | 4,351.2 | 52,300.6 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 67.9 |
| 2022 | 5,687.3 | 67,869.3 | 4,166.9 | 49,725.3 | 1.4 | 8.7 | 3.1 | 64.8 |
| 2023 | 5,876.4 | 69,531.6 | 4,527.0 | 53,565.0 | -0.3 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 62.7 |
| 2024 | 6,017.2 | 70,930.4 | 4,710.0 | 55,521.3 | -0.2 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 62.7 |
| 2025e | 6,174.7 | 72,660.5 | 4,921.6 | 57,914.4 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 62.1 |
| 2026e | 6,377.0 | 74,941.0 | 5,117.2 | 60,136.0 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 60.9 |
| 2027e | 6,568.7 | 77,132.7 | 5,268.0 | 61,858.9 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 59.9 |
| 2028e | 6,745.8 | 79,185.5 | 5,415.5 | 63,569.3 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 59.0 |
| 2029e | 6,920.6 | 81,221.3 | 5,566.1 | 65,324.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 57.8 |
Of the world's 500 largest stock-market-listed companies measured by revenue in 2024, theFortune Global 500, 29 are headquartered in Germany.[92] 40 Germany-based companies are included in theDAX, the most popular German stock market index.26 of Europe's 100 largest are German, among themAllianz, the world's largestinsurance company and one of the largestfinancial services groups andasset managers,largest in Europe;Munich Re, also one of the largest insurance companies;Daimler,Volkswagen, andBMW, among the biggest car markers in the world;[93]Siemens, theworld's biggest industrial machinery company;Deutsche Telekom, one of theworld's largest telecommunication companies;Bayer, among the biggestbiomedical companies;BASF, the world's biggestchemical producer,[94] andSAP, Europe'sbiggest software company.[95] Other major companies includeLufthansa, Europe's largest airline,Deutsche Post, the largest logistics company worldwide,[96]Deutsche Bahn, the largest railway company in the world,[97][98][99]Bosch, the world'slargest automotive supplier,Uniper, the world's largest energy company, andAldi andSchwarz Gruppe, Europe's largest retailers.[100]
Germany is recognised for its specialisedsmall and medium enterprises, known as theMittelstand model. SMEs account for more than 99 percent of German companies.[101] Around 1,000 of these companies are global market leaders in their segment and are labelledhidden champions.[102]
From 1991 to 2010, 40,301mergers and acquisitions with an involvement of German firms with a total known value of 2,422 billion EUR have been announced. The largest transactions since 1991 are: the acquisition ofMannesmann byVodafone for 204.8 billion EUR in 1999, the merger ofDaimler-Benz withChrysler to form DaimlerChrysler in 1998 valued at 36.3 billion EUR.[103]
Berlin developed an internationalstartup ecosystem and became a leading location for venture capital funded firms in the European Union.[104]
The sector with the highest number of companies registered in Germany is Services with 1,443,708 companies followed by Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate and Construction with 480,593 and 173,167 companies respectively.[105]
The list includes the largest German companies by revenue in 2011:
| Rank[106] | Name | Headquarters | Ticker | Revenue (Mil. €) | Profit (Mil. €) | Employees (World) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Volkswagen Group | Wolfsburg | VOWG | 159,000 | 15,800 | 502,000 |
| 2. | E.ON | Essen | EONGn | 113,000 | −1,900 | 79,000 |
| 3. | Daimler | Stuttgart | DAIGn | 107,000 | 6,000 | 271,000 |
| 4. | Siemens | Berlin,München | SIEGn | 74,000 | 6,300 | 360,000 |
| 5. | BASF | Ludwigshafen am Rhein | BASFn | 73,000 | 6,600 | 111,000 |
| 6. | BMW | München | BMWG | 69,000 | 4,900 | 100,000 |
| 7. | Metro | Düsseldorf | MEOG | 67,000 | 740 | 288,000 |
| 8. | Schwarz Gruppe | Neckarsulm | 63,000 | N/A | 315,000 | |
| 9. | Deutsche Telekom | Bonn | DTEGn | 59,000 | 670 | 235,000 |
| 10. | Deutsche Post | Bonn | DPWGn | 53,000 | 1,300 | 471,000 |
| — | Bosch | Gerlingen | 73,100 | 2,300 | 390,000 | |
| — | Uniper | Düsseldorf | UNSE01 | 67,300 | 13,000 | |
| — | Allianz | München | ALVG | 104,000 | 2,800 | 141,000 |
| — | Deutsche Bank | Frankfurt am Main | DBKGn | 4,300 | 101,000 |
Since German reunification, there have been 52,258 mergers or acquisitions deals inbound or outbound in Germany. The most active year in terms of value was 1999 with a total value of 48 billion EUR, twice as much as the runner up which was 2006 with 24 billion EUR.
Here is a list of the top 10 deals (ranked by value) that include a German company. The Vodafone–Mannesmann deal is still the biggest deal in global history.[107]
| Rank | Date | Acquirer | Acquirer Nation | Target | Target Nation | Value (bil. USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 Nov 1999 | Vodafone AirTouch PLC | United Kingdom | Mannesmann AG | Germany | 202.79 |
| 2 | 18 May 2016 | Bayer AG | Germany | Monsanto Co | United States | 56.60 |
| 3 | 6 May 1998 | Daimler-Benz AG | Germany | Chrysler Corp | United States | 40.47 |
| 4 | 16 Aug 2016 | Linde AG | Germany | Praxair Inc | United States | 35.16 |
| 5 | 21 Oct 1999 | Mannesmann AG | Germany | Orange PLC | United Kingdom | 32.59 |
| 6 | 24 Jul 2000 | Deutsche Telekom AG | Germany | VoiceStream Wireless Corp | United States | 29.40 |
| 7 | 17 May 1999 | Rhone-Poulenc SA | France | Hoechst AG | Germany | 21.92 |
| 8 | 23 Mar 2006 | Bayer AG | Germany | Schering AG | Germany | 21.40 |
| 9 | 01 Apr 2001 | Allianz AG | Germany | Dresdner Bank AG | Germany | 19.66 |
| 10 | 30 May 2005 | Unicredito Italiano SpA | Italy | Bayerische Hypo- und Vereins | Germany | 18.26 |
Germany as a federation is a polycentric country and does not have a single economic centre. The stock exchange is located inFrankfurt am Main, the largest Media company (Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA) is headquartered inGütersloh; the largest car manufacturers are inWolfsburg (Volkswagen),Stuttgart (Mercedes-Benz andPorsche), andMunich (Audi andBMW).[108]
Germany is an advocate of closer European economic and political integration. Its commercial policies are increasingly determined by agreements among European Union (EU) members and EUsingle market legislation. Germany introduced the common European currency, theeuro on 1 January 1999. Its monetary policy is set by theEuropean Central Bank in Frankfurt.
The southern states ("Bundesländer"), especially Bayern, Baden-Württemberg, and Hessen, are economically stronger than the northern states. One of Germany's traditionally strongest (and at the same time oldest) economic regions is theRuhr area in the west, betweenDuisburg andDortmund. 27 of the country's 100 largest companies are located there. In recent years, however, the area, whose economy is based on natural resources and heavy industry, has seen a substantial rise in unemployment (2010: 8.7%).[108]
The economy ofBayern andBaden-Württemberg, the states with the lowest number of unemployed people (2018: 2.7%, 3.1%), on the other hand, is based on high-value products. Important sectors are automobiles, electronics, aerospace, and biomedicine, among others. Baden-Württemberg is an industrial centre especially for the automobile and machine-building industry and the home of brands like Mercedes-Benz (Daimler), Porsche and Bosch.[108]
With the reunification on 3 October 1990, Germany began the major task of reconciling the economic systems of the two former republics. Interventionist economic planning ensured gradual development in eastern Germany up to the level of former West Germany, but thestandard of living and annual income remains significantly higher in western German states.[109] The modernisation and integration of the eastern German economy continues to be a long-term process scheduled to last until the year 2019, with annual transfers from west to east amounting to roughly $80 billion. The overall unemployment rate has consistently fallen since 2005 and reached a 20-year low in 2012. The country in July 2014 began legislating to introduce a federally mandated minimum wage which would come into effect on 1 January 2015.[110][needs update]
On 25 May 2023, a declaration of a recession in the German economy was made. It was reported thatGross Domestic Product (GDP) had contracted by 0.3% between January and March. This contraction was largely due to increased prices which discouraged consumer spending. The statistics office in Germany reported that household spending had dropped by 1.2% in the first quarter of the year.[111]
| States | Rank | GRP (in billionsEUR€) | Share of GDP (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
 Germany | — | 3,867.050 | 100 |
 North Rhine-Westphalia | 1 | 793.790 | 20.5 |
 Bavaria | 2 | 716.784 | 18.5 |
 Baden-Württemberg | 3 | 572.837 | 14.8 |
 Lower Saxony | 4 | 339.414 | 8.8 |
 Hesse | 5 | 323.352 | 8.4 |
 Berlin | 6 | 179.379 | 4.6 |
 Rhineland-Palatinate | 7 | 171.699 | 4.4 |
 Saxony | 8 | 146.511 | 3.8 |
 Hamburg | 9 | 144.220 | 3.7 |
 Schleswig-Holstein | 10 | 112.755 | 2.9 |
 Brandenburg | 11 | 88.800 | 2.3 |
 Saxony-Anhalt | 13 | 75.436 | 2.0 |
 Thuringia | 12 | 71.430 | 1.8 |
 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | 14 | 53.440 | 1.4 |
 Bremen | 16 | 38.698 | 1.0 |
 Saarland | 15 | 38.505 | 1.0 |
The following top 10 list of Germanbillionaires is based on an annual assessment of wealth and assets compiled and published byForbes magazine on 1 March 2016.[112]
| Wealth (in billions) | Name(s) of billionaire(s) |
|---|---|
| 27.9 | Albrecht family |
| 20.3 | Theo Albrecht Jr. |
| 18.5 | Susanne Klatten |
| 18.1 | Georg F. W. Schaeffler |
| 16.4 | Dieter Schwarz |
| 15.6 | Stefan Quandt |
| 15.4 | Michael Otto |
| 11.7 | Heinz Hermann Thiele |
| 10 | Klaus-Michael Kühne |
| 9.5 | Hasso Plattner |
Wolfsburg is the city in Germany with the country's highest per capita GDP, at $128,000. The following top 10 list of German cities with the highest per capita GDP is based on a study by theCologne Institute for Economic Research on 31 July 2013.[113]
| GDP | City |
|---|---|
| $128,000 | Wolfsburg,Lower Saxony |
| $114,281 | Frankfurt am Main,Hesse |
| $108,347 | Schweinfurt,Bavaria |
| $104,000 | Ingolstadt, Bavaria |
| $99,389 | Regensburg, Bavaria |
| $92,525 | Düsseldorf,North Rhine-Westphalia |
| $92,464 | Ludwigshafen am Rhein,Rhineland-Palatinate |
| $91,630 | Erlangen, Bavaria |
| $91,121 | Stuttgart,Baden-Württemberg |
| $88,692 | Ulm, Baden-Württemberg |
Germany has asocial market economy characterised by a highly qualifiedlabour force, a developedinfrastructure, a largecapital stock, a low level of corruption,[114] and a high level ofinnovation.[115] It has the largest national economy in Europe, thethird largest by nominal GDP in the world, and rankedfifth by GDP (PPP) in 2023.[8]
Theservice sector contributes around 70% of the total GDP, industry 29.1%, and agriculture 0.9%.[116]
In 2010agriculture,forestry, andmining accounted for only 0.9% of Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) and employed only 2.4% of the population,[69] down from 4% in 1991. Agriculture is extremely productive, and Germany can cover 90% of its nutritional needs with domestic production. Germany is the third-largest agricultural producer in the European Union after France and Italy. Germany's principal agricultural products are potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, and cabbages.[118][119]
Despite the country's high level of industrialisation, almost one-third of its territory is covered by forest.[120] The forestry industry provides for about two-thirds of domestic consumption of wood and wood products, so Germany is a net importer of these items.
The German soil is relatively poor in raw materials. Onlylignite (brown coal) andpotash salt (Kalisalz) are available in significant quantities. However, the former GDR'sWismut mining company produced a total of 230,400 tonnes of uranium between 1947 and 1990 and made East Germany the fourth-largest producer of uranium ore worldwide (largest in USSR's sphere of control) at the time. Oil, natural gas, and other resources are, for the most part, imported from other countries.[121]
Potash salt is mined in the centre of the country (Niedersachsen,Sachsen-Anhalt, andThüringen). The most important producer isK+S (formerly Kali und Salz AG).[121]
Germany's bituminous coal deposits were created more than 300 million years ago from swamps which extended from the present-daySouth England, over the Ruhr area toPoland. Lignite deposits developed similarly, but during a later period, about 66 million years ago. Because the wood is not yet completely transformed into coal, brown coal contains less energy than bituminous coal.[121]
Lignite is extracted in the extreme western and eastern parts of the country, mainly inNordrhein-Westfalen,Sachsen, andBrandenburg. Considerable amounts are burned incoal plants near the mining areas, to produce electricity. Transporting lignite over far distances is not economically feasible, therefore the plants are located practically next to the extraction sites.Bituminous coal is mined in Nordrhein-Westfalen and Saarland. Most power plants burning bituminous coal operate on imported material, therefore the plants are located not only near to the mining sites, but throughout the country.[121]
In 2019, the country was the world's 3rd largest producer ofselenium,[122] the world's 5th largest producer of potash,[123] the world's 5th largest producer ofboron,[124] the world's 7th largest producer oflime,[125] the world's 13th largest producer offluorspar,[126] the world's 14th largest producer offeldspar,[127] the world's 17th largest producer ofgraphite,[128] the world's 18th largest producer ofsulfur,[129] in addition to being the 4th largest world producer ofsalt.[130]
Industry and construction accounted for 30.7% of the gross domestic product in 2017 and employed 24.2% of the workforce.[3] Germany excels in the production ofautomobiles,machinery, electrical equipment, and chemicals. With the manufacture of 5.2 million vehicles in 2009, Germany was the world's fourth-largest producer and largest exporter of automobiles.German automotive companies enjoy an extremely strong position in the so-called premium segment, with a combined world market share of about 90%. All new automobiles sold in Germany must bezero-emission vehicles from 2035.[131]
Small- to medium-sized manufacturing firms (Mittelstand companies) which specialise in technologically advanced niche products and are often family-owned form a major part of the German economy.[132] It is estimated that about 1,500 German companies occupy a top three position in their respective market segment worldwide. In about two thirds of all industry sectors German companies belong to the top three competitors.[133]
Germany is the only country among the top five arms exporters that is not a permanent member of theUnited Nations Security Council.[134]
In 2017 services constituted 68.6% of gross domestic product (GDP), and the sector employed 74.3% of the workforce.[69] The subcomponents of services are financial, renting, and business activities (30.5%); trade, hotels and restaurants, and transport (18%); and other service activities (21.7%).
Germany is the seventh most visited country in the world,[135][136] with a total of 407 million overnights during 2012.[137] This number includes 68.83 million nights by foreign visitors. In 2012, over 30.4 million international tourists arrived in Germany.Berlin has become the third most visited city destination in Europe.[138] Additionally, more than 30% of Germans spend their holiday in their own country, with the biggest share going toMecklenburg-Vorpommern. Domestic and international travel and tourism combined directly contribute over EUR43.2 billion to German GDP. Including indirect and induced impacts, the industry contributes 4.5% of German GDP and supports 2 million jobs (4.8% of total employment).[139] The largest annual international trade fairs and congresses are held in several German cities such as Hannover, Frankfurt, and Berlin.[76]
Thedebt-to-GDP ratio of Germany had its peak in 2010 when it stood at 80.3% and decreased since then.[140] According toEurostat, thegovernment gross debt of Germany amounts to €2,152.0 billion or 71.9% of its GDP in 2015.[141] The federal government achieved a budget surplus of €12.1 billion ($13.1 billion) in 2015.[142] Germany'scredit rating bycredit rating agenciesStandard & Poor's,Moody's, andFitch Ratings stands at the highest possible ratingAAA with a stable outlook in 2016.[143]
Germany's "debt clock" (Schuldenuhr) reversed for the first time in 20 years in January 2018. It is now currently increasing at 10,424.00 per second (October 2020).[144]
Economists generally see Germany's current account surplus as undesirable.[145]
Germany is the world's fifth-largest consumer of energy, and two-thirds of its primary energy was imported in 2002. In the same year, Germany was Europe's largest consumer of electricity, totaling 512.9 terawatt-hours. Government policy promotes energy conservation and the development ofrenewable energy sources, such as solar,wind,biomass, hydroelectric, andgeothermal energy. As a result of energy-saving measures,energy efficiency has been improving since the beginning of the 1970s. The government has set the goal of meeting half the country's energy demands from renewable sources by 2050. Renewable energy also plays an increasing role in the labour market: Almost 700,000 people are employed in the energy sector. About 50 percent of them work with renewable energies.[146]
In 2000, thered-green coalition under Chancellor Schröder and theGerman nuclear power industry agreed to phase out allnuclear power plants by 2021.[147] Theconservative coalition under Chancellor Merkel reversed this decision in January 2010, electing to keep plants open. The nuclear disaster of the Japanese nuclear plantFukushima in March 2011 however, changed the political climate fundamentally: Older nuclear plants have been shut down. Germany is seeking to have wind, solar, biogas, and other renewable energy sources play a bigger role, as the country looks to completely phase out nuclear power by 2022 and coal-fired power plants by 2038.[148] Renewable energy yet still plays a more modest role in energy consumption, though German solar and wind power industries play a leading role worldwide. Germany has been called "the world's first majorrenewable energy economy".[40][41]
In 2009, Germany's total energy consumption (not just electricity) came from the following sources:[149] oil 34.6%, natural gas 21.7%, lignite 11.4%, bituminous coal 11.1%, nuclear power 11.0%, hydro and wind power 1.5%, others 9.0%.
In the first half of 2021, coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy comprised 56% of the total electricity fed into Germany's grid in the first half of 2021. Coal was the leader out of the conventional energy sources, comprising over 27% of Germany's electricity. Wind power's contribution to the electric grid was 22%.[148]
There are 3 major entry points for oil pipelines: in the northeast (theDruzhba pipeline, coming fromGdańsk), west (coming fromRotterdam) and southeast (coming fromNelahozeves). The oil pipelines of Germany do not constitute a proper network, and sometimes only connect two different locations. Major oil refineries are located in or near the following cities:Schwedt,Spergau,Vohburg,Burghausen,Karlsruhe,Cologne,Gelsenkirchen,Lingen,Wilhelmshaven,Hamburg, andHeide.[150]
Germany's network ofnatural gas pipelines, on the other hand, is dense and well-connected. Imported pipeline gas comes mostly fromRussia, theNetherlands, and theUnited Kingdom.
With its central position in Europe, Germany is an important transportation hub. This is reflected in its dense and modern transportation networks. The extensive motorway (Autobahn) network ranks worldwide third largest in its total length and features a lack of blanketspeed limits on the majority of routes.[151]
Germany has established a polycentric network ofhigh-speed trains. TheIntercity Express orICE is the most advanced service category of theDeutsche Bahn and serves major German cities as well as destinations in neighbouring countries. The train maximum speed varies between 200 km/h and 320 km/h (125-200 mph). Connections are offered at either 30-minute, hourly, or two-hourly intervals.[152] German railways are heavily subsidised, receiving €17.0 billion in 2014.[153]
The largest German airports areFrankfurt Airport andMunich Airport, both are global hubs ofLufthansa. Other major airports areBerlin Brandenburg Airport,Düsseldorf,Hamburg,Hanover,Cologne/Bonn, andStuttgart.
Seven German banks are among thebiggest in the world. As of 2019, Germany is the country in Europe with the highest number of credit institutions: between 1,600 and 1,800.[154] The types of institutions are in strongcompetition with each other: 390Sparkassen and 8 publicLandesbanken groups (1,200 billion euros ofdeposits), privatecommercial banks (DB,Commerzbank, andUnicredit-HypoVereinsbank, for 780 billion), cooperative credit banks (700 billion euros), savings banks, andRaiffeisen. The total of the system is worth 3,800 billion. 75% of retail customer deposits are managed bysavings banks and cooperative credit banks.Deutsche Bank and theSparkassen-Finanzgruppe are among the biggest financial services groups worldwide.[155][156]
According to Eurostat, in 2022 Germany also recorded the highest European rate of grosssavings (19.9% ofdisposable income).[157]
Germany's achievements in sciences have been among the world´s best,[159] andresearch and development efforts form an integral part of the economy.[160]
Germany is also one of the leading countries in developing and using green technologies. Companies specialising ingreen technology have an estimated turnover of €200 billion. German expertise in engineering, science, and research is eminently respectable.
The lead markets of Germany's green technology industry are power generation, sustainable mobility,material efficiency, energy efficiency, waste management andrecycling, sustainablewater management.[161]
Regarding triadic patents, Germany is in third place after the U.S. and Japan. With more than 26,500 registrations for patents submitted to the European Patent Office, Germany is the leading European nation.Siemens, Bosch, and BASF, with almost 5,000 registrations for patents between them in 2008, are among the top 5 of more than 35,000 companies registering patents. Together with the U.S. and Japan, about patents for nano, bio, and new technologies Germany is one of the world's most active nations. With around one-third of triadic patents, Germany leads the way worldwide in the field of vehicle emission reduction.[162]
According toWinfried Kretschmann, who is premier of the region where Daimler is based, "China dominates the production of solar cells. Tesla is ahead in electric cars and Germany has lost the first round of digitalization toGoogle,Apple, and the like. Whether Germany has a future as an industrial economy will depend on whether we can manage the ecological and digital transformation of our economy".[163]
Despite economic prosperity, Germany's biggest threat to future economic development is the nation's declining birthrate, which is among the lowest in the world. This is particularly prevalent in parts of society with higher education. As a result, the numbers of workers are expected to decrease and the government spending needed to support pensioners and healthcare will increase if the trend is not reversed.[165]
In the case of compensation law, the Jewish Political Studies Review argues that Germany still holds 80% of the value of assets stolen by the Nazi regime, mainly "financial assets, enterprises, and household items" estimated at more than $115-$175 billion to be restored to their owners.[166]
Less than a quarter of German people expect living conditions to improve in the coming decades.[167]
On August 25, 2020,Federal Statistical Office of Germany revealed that the German economy plunged by 9.7% in the second quarter which is the worst on record. The latest figures show how hard the German economy was hit by the government measures in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[168]
Energy-intensive German industry andGerman exporters were hit particularly hard by the2022 global energy crisis.[169][83] Economy MinisterRobert Habeck warned that the planned end ofRussian energy imports will permanently raise energy prices for German industry and consumers.[170]
In the early 21st century, German governments supported theEuropean Green Deal and Germany'stransition to green energy.[171] Germany planned tophase out coal by 2030.[172] The last threenuclear power plants in Germany were shut down on 15 April 2023.[173][174]
Speaking at theCOP28 climate summit inDubai in December 2023, German ChancellorOlaf Scholz called for aphase-out of fossil fuels, includingcoal,oil andnatural gas, and reiterated Germany's commitment to beclimate neutral by 2045, saying, "The technologies are there: wind power, photovoltaics, electric motors, green hydrogen."[175]
In April 2025, the German government cut its economic growth forecast for 2025 to zero, citing the impact of US PresidentDonald Trump's trade policies. The United States is Germany’s largest trading partner, and Habeck said Trump’s tariffs were going to hit the German economy harder than other nations because it is so reliant on exports.[176]
In October 2023, Economy MinisterRobert Habeck called for more immigration to Germany, saying the shortage of skilled workers was the country's "most pressing structural problem".[177] Net immigration to Germany was 663,000 in 2023, down from a record 1,462,000 in 2022.[178]
In recent decades,poverty in Germany has been increasing. Children are more likely to be poor than adults. There has been a strong increase in the number of poor children. In 1965, only one in 75 children lived on welfare, in 2007 one in 6 did.[179]
Poverty rates differ by states. In 2005, only 6.6% of children and 3.9% of all citizens in states likeBavaria were impoverished. InBerlin, 15.2% of the inhabitants and 30.7% of the children received welfare payments.[180]
The GermanKinderhilfswerk, an organization caring for children in need has demanded the government to do something about the poverty problem.
As of 2015, poverty in Germany was at its highest since theGerman reunification (1990). Some 12.5 million Germans are now classified as poor.[181]Homelessness in Germany is a significant social issue, estimated to affect around 678,000 people,[182] including about 372,000 people accommodated by public services, e.g., in municipal refugee shelters.[183] As of 2017[update] there had been a 150% increase in the homeless population within the country since 2014.[184] Around 22,000 of the homeless population are reported to be children.[182][citation needed]
In addition, the country has yet to publish statistics on homelessness at a Federal Level[185] despite it being an ongoing and widespread matter.As a highly industrial,urbanized economy with a relatively short coastline compared to other major economies, the effects of climate change on Germany are more narrowly focused than other major economies. Germany's traditional industrial regions are typically the mostvulnerable to climate change. These are mostly located in theprovinces ofNorth Rhine-Westphalia,Saarland,Rhineland-Palatinate,Thuringia,Saxony,Schleswig-Holstein and thefree cities ofBremen andHamburg.[186]
TheRhineland is historically a heavily industrial and population-dense area which includes the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland Palatinate, and Saarland. This region is rich in iron and coal deposits and supports one of Europe's largest coal industries. In the past,sulfuric acid emissions from Rhineland coal plants contributed toacid rain, damaging forests in other regions like Hesse, Thuringia, and Saxony.
Other significant problems for the Rhineland related to its high level of industrialization include the destruction of infrastructure fromextreme weather events, loss of water for industrial purposes, and fluctuation of the ground water level. Since these problems are related to its level of industrialization, cities within other regions are also sensitive to these challenges includingMunich andBremen.
_b.jpg)
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)There were until [1870] [...] only the beginnings of a nexus of technological innovation and economic growth, the erratic construction of a platform for what might later be justifiably termed a take-off in Germany. But there is little evidence within the given chronological framework for a full-blown notion of an Industrial Revolution [...].
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
