Health in Germany

Health in Germany

Germany works hard to make sure everyone has good health care. As of 2025, experts say Germany is doing most of what is possible for the right to health, considering how much money the country has.

People in Germany can expect to live well into their later years, staying healthy and educated. From 1990 to 2016, Germany was ranked twenty-fourth out of 195 countries for expected human capital. This means people born in Germany during that time could look forward to about 25 years of healthy, educated life between the ages of 20 and 64.

Life expectancy

In 2014, Germany was ranked 20th in the world for how long people live. Men lived about 76.5 years on average, and women lived about 82.1 years.

The country also had a very low number of babies who did not survive their first year. Only about 4 babies out of every 1,000 did not live to see their first birthday in 2014.

Epidemiology

See also: Obesity in Germany

Obesity is a big health problem in Germany. A study showed that Germany had more people who were overweight than any other country in Europe. However, some other places had even more people who were very obese.

In 2015, it was estimated that about 11.5% of people in Germany had a condition called diabetes type 2. For women, the most common health problems in 2020 were heart disease, memory loss, and problems with the heart and blood vessels. For men, the most common reason for leaving the hospital was heart disease, followed by issues related to alcohol and problems with the belly.

A study looked at how often heart and blood vessel problems happened in different parts of Germany. It found that places with fewer heart doctors had more of these problems. Some areas had more heart problems and people did not live as long.

Around 2013, about 24.5% of adults in Germany smoked. Among young people aged 18 to 25, about 35% smoked.

At the end of 2004, a small number of people in Germany were affected by a health condition called HIV/AIDS.

A report found that people in Germany did not live as long as people in some other big European countries, although they still lived longer than the average for all of Europe. The report also noted that while problems with the heart and blood vessels were happening less often, cancer was becoming a more common reason for people to pass away. Memory loss problems were also increasing.

History

In the late 1800s, Berlin was very crowded. Most homes did not have toilets, and diseases like cholera and typhus spread often. A doctor named Rudolf Virchow suggested building better sewage systems to help stop these diseases.

Later, in 1883, a leader named Otto von Bismarck started important laws to help people stay healthy, like insurance for sickness, accidents, and old age. By 2014, Germany had many doctors available.

Vaccination

In Germany, experts called the Standing Committee on Vaccination give advice about vaccines. The Robert Koch Institute in Berlin keeps track of how many children get vaccines when they start school.

The group meets twice a year to talk about diseases that vaccines can stop. They give advice, but vaccines are not required by law. Each state can decide on extra advice for its area. The group also suggests vaccines for some jobs, travelers, and other groups who might need more protection.