Social contributions in Germany
Germany: Social contributions was 719.67 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Social contributions in Germany, 1972–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, social contributions in Germany stood at 719.67 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.6% on the previous year and up 57.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social contributions in Germany peaked at 719.67 billion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 49.64 billion current LCU, in 1972.
Germany ranks 19th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Social contributions in Germany, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 49.64 billion current LCU | — |
| 1973 | 58.91 billion current LCU | +18.7% |
| 1974 | 65.08 billion current LCU | +10.5% |
| 1975 | 71.17 billion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 1976 | 80.56 billion current LCU | +13.2% |
| 1977 | 86.37 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 1978 | 92.39 billion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 1979 | 99.44 billion current LCU | +7.6% |
| 1980 | 117.40 billion current LCU | +18.1% |
| 1981 | 126.86 billion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 135.22 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 138.12 billion current LCU | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 140.64 billion current LCU | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 147.79 billion current LCU | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 155.94 billion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 1987 | 162.11 billion current LCU | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 169.86 billion current LCU | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 177.94 billion current LCU | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 247.29 billion current LCU | +39.0% |
| 1992 | 271.61 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 1993 | 288.28 billion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 309.46 billion current LCU | +7.3% |
| 1995 | 328.92 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 344.32 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 355.99 billion current LCU | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 359.03 billion current LCU | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 363.28 billion current LCU | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 364.04 billion current LCU | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 368.93 billion current LCU | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 374.15 billion current LCU | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 381.24 billion current LCU | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 380.89 billion current LCU | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 380.13 billion current LCU | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 383.83 billion current LCU | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 382.84 billion current LCU | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 390.03 billion current LCU | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 392.10 billion current LCU | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 402.31 billion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 417.94 billion current LCU | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 430.00 billion current LCU | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 440.49 billion current LCU | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 456.88 billion current LCU | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 475.20 billion current LCU | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 497.40 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 521.68 billion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 543.89 billion current LCU | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 568.07 billion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 577.00 billion current LCU | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 600.18 billion current LCU | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 633.54 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 675.31 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2024 | 719.67 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 719.67 billion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 35.12 billion current LCU, 20.5× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Germany's 719.67 billion current LCU is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 64.53 billion current LCU, 11.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Social contributions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +39.0% | 177.94 billion current LCU | 247.29 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 75.44 billion current LCU | 49.64 billion current LCU | 99.44 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 1980s | 147.19 billion current LCU | 117.40 billion current LCU | 177.94 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 318.69 billion current LCU | 247.29 billion current LCU | 363.28 billion current LCU | 9 |
| 2000s | 379.82 billion current LCU | 364.04 billion current LCU | 392.10 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 475.39 billion current LCU | 402.31 billion current LCU | 568.07 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 641.14 billion current LCU | 577.00 billion current LCU | 719.67 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More public sector data for Germany
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- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
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- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is social contributions in Germany?
- Social contributions in Germany was 719.67 billion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest social contributions recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 719.67 billion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest social contributions recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.64 billion current LCU in 1972.
- How does Germany rank for social contributions?
- Germany ranks 19th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is social contributions rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.5%. 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 Social contributions (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Social contributions are actual or imputed contributions payable to social insurance schemes to make provisions for social benefits to be paid. 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.