Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Germany
Germany: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) was -72.74 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Germany, 1972–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Germany recorded -72.74 billion current LCU for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in 2024.
That represents a change of up 13.3% on the previous year and down 456.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Germany peaked at 38.15 billion current LCU in 2018 and was at its lowest, -149.14 billion current LCU, in 1995.
Germany ranks 102nd of 156 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Germany, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 4.36 billion current LCU | — |
| 1973 | 8.31 billion current LCU | +90.8% |
| 1974 | -1.61 billion current LCU | -119.3% |
| 1975 | -15.88 billion current LCU | +888.9% |
| 1976 | -14.12 billion current LCU | -11.1% |
| 1977 | -11.92 billion current LCU | -15.6% |
| 1978 | -11.88 billion current LCU | -0.3% |
| 1979 | -11.57 billion current LCU | -2.6% |
| 1980 | -11.10 billion current LCU | -4.1% |
| 1981 | -15.31 billion current LCU | +37.9% |
| 1982 | -12.94 billion current LCU | -15.5% |
| 1983 | -13.32 billion current LCU | +3.0% |
| 1984 | -11.16 billion current LCU | -16.2% |
| 1985 | -5.17 billion current LCU | -53.6% |
| 1986 | -4.60 billion current LCU | -11.1% |
| 1987 | -9.33 billion current LCU | +102.8% |
| 1988 | -15.10 billion current LCU | +61.9% |
| 1989 | 1.84 billion current LCU | -112.2% |
| 1990 | -7.51 billion current LCU | -508.1% |
| 1991 | -37.83 billion current LCU | +403.6% |
| 1992 | -27.05 billion current LCU | -28.5% |
| 1993 | -31.93 billion current LCU | +18.0% |
| 1994 | -19.92 billion current LCU | -37.6% |
| 1995 | -149.14 billion current LCU | +648.6% |
| 1996 | -41.54 billion current LCU | -72.1% |
| 1997 | -30.46 billion current LCU | -26.7% |
| 1998 | -35.58 billion current LCU | +16.8% |
| 1999 | -25.77 billion current LCU | -27.6% |
| 2000 | -24.87 billion current LCU | -3.5% |
| 2001 | -29.96 billion current LCU | +20.5% |
| 2002 | -45.21 billion current LCU | +50.9% |
| 2003 | -37.33 billion current LCU | -17.4% |
| 2004 | -41.81 billion current LCU | +12.0% |
| 2005 | -50.67 billion current LCU | +21.2% |
| 2006 | -28.48 billion current LCU | -43.8% |
| 2007 | -4.29 billion current LCU | -84.9% |
| 2008 | -7.65 billion current LCU | +78.3% |
| 2009 | -51.66 billion current LCU | +575.1% |
| 2010 | -83.70 billion current LCU | +62.0% |
| 2011 | -10.19 billion current LCU | -87.8% |
| 2012 | 2.60 billion current LCU | -125.6% |
| 2013 | 5.86 billion current LCU | +124.9% |
| 2014 | 20.42 billion current LCU | +248.7% |
| 2015 | 20.96 billion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 23.55 billion current LCU | +12.3% |
| 2017 | 21.21 billion current LCU | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 38.15 billion current LCU | +79.9% |
| 2019 | 27.11 billion current LCU | -28.9% |
| 2020 | -126.16 billion current LCU | -565.3% |
| 2021 | -129.62 billion current LCU | +2.7% |
| 2022 | -102.38 billion current LCU | -21.0% |
| 2023 | -83.92 billion current LCU | -18.0% |
| 2024 | -72.74 billion current LCU | -13.3% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's -72.74 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is -2.76 billion current LCU, 26.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Germany's -72.74 billion current LCU is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -6.97 billion current LCU, 10.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -888.9% | -1.61 billion current LCU | -15.88 billion current LCU |
| 1995 | -648.6% | -19.92 billion current LCU | -149.14 billion current LCU |
| 2009 | -575.1% | -7.65 billion current LCU | -51.66 billion current LCU |
| 2020 | -565.3% | 27.11 billion current LCU | -126.16 billion current LCU |
| 1990 | -508.1% | 1.84 billion current LCU | -7.51 billion current LCU |
| 1991 | -403.6% | -7.51 billion current LCU | -37.83 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -6.79 billion current LCU | -15.88 billion current LCU | 8.31 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 1980s | -9.62 billion current LCU | -15.31 billion current LCU | 1.84 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -40.67 billion current LCU | -149.14 billion current LCU | -7.51 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -32.19 billion current LCU | -51.66 billion current LCU | -4.29 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.60 billion current LCU | -83.70 billion current LCU | 38.15 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -102.96 billion current LCU | -129.62 billion current LCU | -72.74 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
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Frequently asked questions
- What is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Germany?
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Germany was -72.74 billion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 38.15 billion current LCU in 2018.
- What is the lowest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was -149.14 billion current LCU in 1995.
- How does Germany rank for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-)?
- Germany ranks 102nd out of 156 countries with data for 2024.
- Is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 456.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (–) equals government revenue minus expense, minus net investment in nonfinancial assets. It is also equal to the net result of transactions in financial assets and liabilities. Net lending/net borrowing is a summary measure indicating the extent to which government is either putting financial resources at the disposal of other sectors in the economy or abroad, or utilizing the financial resources generated by other sectors in the economy or from abroad. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.