Preliminary data released Tuesday by the Statistical Federal Office (Destatis) indicates a significant rise in public debt in Germany by the end of 2024. The total public debt for the non-public sector reached €2.510,5 billion, equivalent to €30,062 per capita. This represents an increase of €669 per person compared to the end of 2023.
The non-public sector, encompassing credit institutions and both domestic and foreign entities including private businesses, saw a 2.6% increase in public debt overall, amounting to €63.4 billion. This rise was attributed to debt accumulation across all types of regional authorities.
Federal debt stood at €1.732,7 billion at the year’s end, a 2.1% increase or €35 billion compared to 2023, resulting in a per capita debt of €20,748 (from €20,391 in 2023).
State debt rose by 2.1% (€12.5 billion) to €607.3 billion. This marks the first annual increase in state debt since 2021. The average per capita state debt was €7,273 (from €7,145 in 2023).
City-states consistently demonstrate the highest per capita debt. Bremen recorded €33,934 per capita, Hamburg €17,571 and Berlin €18,173. It is important to note that city-states fulfill municipal responsibilities in addition to their state functions.
Among the larger regional states (Flächenländer), Saarland showed the highest per capita debt at €13,697, followed by Schleswig-Holstein at €10,903. Bavaria and Saxony consistently display the lowest levels of per capita debt, with figures of €1,353 and €1,482, respectively.
Municipal and municipal association debt continued its five-year upward trend, increasing by 10.3% (€15.9 billion) to €170.5 billion overall. This translates to a per capita debt of €2,206 (from €2,005 in 2023).
North Rhine-Westphalia’s municipalities remain the most heavily indebted per capita, at €3,577 (from €3,158 in 2023), followed by Hessian municipalities at €3,009 (from €2,734). Saarland’s municipalities and associations rank third, with a per capita debt of €2,824 (from €2,796), despite relief measures.
Rhineland-Palatinate, previously among the most indebted, has seen a notable improvement thanks to a debt relief program and no longer figures amongst the top three.
Brandenburg’s municipalities exhibit the lowest levels of per capita debt, at €581 (from €556 in 2023), followed by Thuringia (€867 from €898) and Saxony (€892 from €758).
Debt related to social insurance significantly decreased, falling from €0.48 per capita to €0.12, with total debt decreasing to €10 million (from €40 million in 2023).