German households in private savings are allocating a higher proportion of their income compared to many other industrialized nations. According to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Tuesday, the gross savings rate stood at 18.9 percent in 2025, significantly surpassing the European Union average of 14.3 percent.
When comparing countries internationally, figures highlight varying saving behaviors. In France, private households saved 17.8 percent of their disposable gross income; the Netherlands recorded 17.4 percent, Austria reported 15.7 percent, and Italy indicated 10.8 percent. Conversely, Switzerland showed a markedly higher rate of 27.4 percent, which is attributed in part to the greater prominence of private retirement savings there. In contrast, the gross savings rate in the United States was comparably lower at 10.7 percent.
The gross savings rate is typically used for international comparisons, measuring the share of savings relative to the disposable income of households, excluding deductions like depreciation, particularly related to real estate.
This tendency towards high private savings continues when viewed over the long term. Over the past ten years, households in Germany have, on average, saved 19.1 percent of their income. Comparatively, the rate in France averaged 16.6 percent, as did the Netherlands (16.3 percent), Austria (15.3 percent), Italy (12.1 percent), and the United States (13.0 percent). Switzerland maintained a higher average gross savings rate between 2016 and 2025, reaching 24.5 percent.
However, the savings rate in Germany has recently experienced a slight decline. In the first half of 2026, the rate was 18.9 percent, mirroring its 2025 level. This marks a decrease from the 19.6 percent posted in 2024. The peak of savings occurred in 2020, when the rate reached 22.9 percent. The surge in savings during that year is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led consumers to reduce their spending more than usual.
