Germany’s direct healthcare expenditure reached 491.6 billion euros in 2023, according to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This represents a significant increase from 430.1 billion euros in 2020 and 337.1 billion euros in 2015.
The average per capita costs for healthcare rose to 5,900 euros in 2023, an increase of 670 euros (12.7 percent) compared to 2020 and 1,760 euros (42.4 percent) compared to 2015. Cardiovascular diseases and mental and behavioral disorders remained the most costly conditions treated.
In 2023, over a quarter (26.0 percent) of total healthcare costs were attributable to diseases of the circulatory system (13.1 percent, or 64.6 billion euros) and mental and behavioral disorders (12.9 percent, or 63.3 billion euros). Diseases of the digestive system accounted for 10.3 percent (50.6 billion euros), closely followed by musculoskeletal disorders with 10.1 percent (49.9 billion euros). Neoplasms, including cancers, represented 9.7 percent (47.6 billion euros) of the total expenditure. Collectively, these five disease categories accounted for roughly half of all healthcare costs in 2023.
This cost distribution has remained remarkably stable over time; in 2015, these five categories accounted for 55.7 percent of total costs and in 2020, they represented 54.7 percent.
Healthcare costs increase substantially with age. Individuals aged 65 and over accounted for over half (53.2 percent) of total healthcare expenditure, totaling 261.8 billion euros, equivalent to 14,070 euros per capita.
The lowest per capita healthcare costs were observed in the 15-29 age group (2,270 euros), followed by those under 15 (2,450 euros). Healthcare costs for those aged 30-44 were 2,950 euros per capita, while those aged 45-64 incurred costs of 5,230 euros per capita. The 65-84 age group had costs of 11,480 euros per person and those over 85 had per capita costs of 28,860 euros.
In 2023, per capita healthcare costs were 1,190 euros higher for women (6,490 euros) than for men (5,300 euros). Cardiovascular diseases were more costly to treat in men (800 euros per capita) than in women (750 euros), while the opposite was true for mental and behavioral disorders, where costs per capita were approximately 1.5 times higher for women (920 euros) than for men (600 euros). The overall higher per capita costs for women are attributed to both gender-specific conditions, costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth and a higher life expectancy resulting in a larger proportion of older and very old women; of the nearly 2.8 million people aged 85 and over in 2023, approximately two-thirds (65.4 percent) were female.
