Expenditure on social benefits by function in Germany
Germany: Expenditure on social benefits by function was 1.37 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1.37 million
Change on year
up 5.7%
World rank
1st
of 46 countries
All-time high
1.37 million
in 2025
All-time low
362,116
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Expenditure on social benefits by function in Germany, 1991–2025
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
Germany recorded 1.37 million for expenditure on social benefits by function in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.7% on the previous year and up 60.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on social benefits by function in Germany peaked at 1.37 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 362,116, in 1991.
Germany ranks 1st of 46 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Expenditure on social benefits by function in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 362,116 | — |
| 1992 | 417,291 | +15.2% |
| 1993 | 458,823 | +10.0% |
| 1994 | 483,740 | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 523,944 | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 543,811 | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 532,975 | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 544,679 | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 568,797 | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 585,173 | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 602,062 | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 625,186 | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 637,856 | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 636,030 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 640,005 | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 638,928 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 648,636 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 669,807 | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 720,938 | +7.6% |
| 2010 | 737,723 | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 743,464 | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 761,098 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 788,261 | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 816,730 | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 853,690 | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 893,256 | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 926,406 | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 957,393 | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 1.00 million | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 1.08 million | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 1.12 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 1.14 million | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 1.21 million | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 1.30 million | +7.0% |
| 2025 | 1.37 million | +5.7% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 1.37 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 65,739, 20.9× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Germany's 1.37 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 70,640, 19.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 492,908 | 362,116 | 568,797 | 9 |
| 2000s | 640,462 | 585,173 | 720,938 | 10 |
| 2010s | 848,188 | 737,723 | 1.00 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.20 million | 1.08 million | 1.37 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 2 France 960,618 compare
- 3 Italy 645,053 compare
- 4 United Kingdom 617,697 compare
- 4 United Kingdom 617,697 compare
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on social benefits by function in Germany?
- Expenditure on social benefits by function in Germany was 1.37 million in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest expenditure on social benefits by function recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 1.37 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest expenditure on social benefits by function recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 362,116 in 1991.
- How does Germany rank for expenditure on social benefits by function?
- Germany ranks 1st out of 46 countries with data for 2025.
- Is expenditure on social benefits by function rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Expenditure on social benefits by function. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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