In 2025, the gross savings rate of private households in Germany stood at 18.9% of disposable income, noticeably exceeding the European Union average of 14.3%. The Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis) reported the figures in a release on 27 October 2026 ahead of World Savings Day (30–31 October).
- In 2025 and the first half of 2026, private households in Germany saved an average of 18.9% of their disposable income.
- Germany’s savings rate exceeded that of France (17.8%), the Netherlands (17.4%), Austria (15.7%), Italy (10.8%), and the United States (10.7%), while trailing Switzerland (27.4%).
- Over the ten-year period from 2016 to 2025, Germany’s average gross household savings rate was 19.1%.
Comparison with European countries and the United States
According to Destatis data based on figures from Eurostat, the OECD, and national statistical offices, the propensity of households in Germany to save has traditionally exceeded that of most other advanced economies. Among comparable countries, gross household savings rates in 2025 were distributed as follows:
| Country | Gross savings rate (2025) | 2016–2025 average |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 27.4% | 24.5% |
| Germany | 18.9% | 19.1% |
| France | 17.8% | 16.6% |
| Netherlands | 17.4% | 16.3% |
| Austria | 15.7% | 15.3% |
| Italy | 10.8% | 12.1% |
| United States | 10.7% | 13.0% |
| EU average | 14.3% | — |
Destatis attributes Switzerland’s substantially higher rate (27.4%) to the institutional structure of its pension system, in which private retirement provision plays a greater role. By contrast, the gross savings rate in the United States was comparatively low at 10.7%.
Savings trends in Germany
In the first half of 2026, the household savings rate in Germany remained at 18.9%, slightly below the 2024 figure of 19.6%.
Germany recorded a historical peak of 22.9% in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on retail and services, consumer spending dropped considerably, leading to a marked rise in household savings.
Methodological notes
In the national accounts, the gross savings rate (Bruttosparquote) is calculated as the ratio of total private household savings to total disposable household income (including newly acquired occupational pension entitlements).
Destatis notes that the gross indicator is calculated before deducting depreciation—above all depreciation on owner-occupied and rented dwellings. Unlike the net savings rate (Nettosparquote), where depreciation reduces both disposable income and savings, the gross savings rate is customarily used for international comparisons. Valuation changes—such as stock market gains or losses and changes in real estate prices—are excluded from both income and savings.
The statistical figures for 2025 and the first half of 2026 are currently provisional.
Information sources
- Destatis: Zahl der Woche Nr. 44 — Bruttosparquote in Deutschland mit 18,9 % im internationalen Vergleich überdurchschnittlich hoch Source publication date: 27 October 2026.