The costs related to treatment, care, prevention, and rehabilitation in Germany have become one of the major financial challenges. The Federal Statistical Office of Germany announced that the direct costs of illness in the country reached 528.5 billion euros in 2024. This figure represents a 7.6 percent increase compared to last year and indicates the increasing pressures on the country's healthcare system.
Increase in Per Capita Illness Costs
According to published statistics, the per capita illness cost for each citizen of Germany has reached 6,330 euros per year. This increase in costs is particularly evident in various treatment and care sectors. This calculation does not include costs related to absenteeism from work or reduced productivity, which could add to the financial dimensions of this issue.
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Gender and Age Differences in Costs
Statistics show that illness costs differ significantly between women and men. The per capita cost for women is 6,960 euros, while this figure for men is reported at 5,680 euros. In other words, the per capita illness cost for women is 22.5 percent higher than for men. This difference is attributed to the higher life expectancy of women and their greater presence in older and very old age groups. Additionally, costs related to pregnancy and childbirth have also influenced this discrepancy.
The most expensive illness groups also differ for women and men. Among women, mental and behavioral disorders, including dementia, account for the highest costs, while cardiovascular diseases incur the most costs among men.
Age and Health Costs
Age is one of the most important factors in increasing health costs in Germany. More than half of the total illness costs, amounting to 284.3 billion euros, are related to individuals over 65 years old. While the annual cost for individuals aged 15 to 29 is an average of 2,390 euros, this figure for those over 85 years old reaches 30,150 euros per person.
In total, cardiovascular diseases have generated the highest costs for the German healthcare system, amounting to 69.4 billion euros. Following that, mental and behavioral disorders rank second with 68.7 billion euros. More than half of the total costs are related to five major groups of illnesses: cardiovascular diseases, mental and behavioral disorders, musculoskeletal diseases, digestive system diseases, and tumors, including cancer.
These statistics indicate that the share of these five groups of total illness costs has remained relatively stable since 2015. Given the trend of increasing costs, it seems that the German healthcare system is facing serious challenges that require more attention and careful planning.
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