Wiesbaden – October 28, 2026 -- German households saved 18.9% of their gross disposable income in 2025, 4.6 percentage points above the European Union average of 14.3%, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), which published the data ahead of World Savings Day on Oct. 30/31.
Germany ranks above France, the Netherlands, Austria and Italy
French households saved 17.8% of disposable income in 2025, Dutch households 17.4% and Austrian households 15.7%. Italy recorded 10.8%. Switzerland posted 27.4%, the highest among the countries comparable to Germany. Destatis attributes the Swiss figure to the greater role of private retirement provision there. The United States recorded 10.7%.
Ten-year average of 19.1% confirms Germany's saving habit
German households saved 19.1% of income on average over the past ten years. Every comparison country had a lower long-term figure:
- France: 16.6%
- Netherlands: 16.3%
- Austria: 15.3%
- United States: 13.0%
- Italy: 12.1%
Switzerland, at 24.5% on average for 2016 to 2025, was the exception.
German savings rate slips from 19.6% in 2024 to 18.9%
The German rate stood at 19.6% in 2024 and fell to 18.9% in 2025. It held at 18.9% in the first half of 2026. The peak was 22.9% in 2020, when households consumed less than usual during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gross rate excludes depreciation, mainly on housing
The gross savings rate is the standard measure for international comparisons. It shows savings as a share of household disposable income before depreciation, chiefly on real estate. The net rate deducts depreciation from both income and savings and is therefore significantly lower than the gross rate. Valuation changes such as share price gains or losses and property value shifts count as neither savings nor income. The national accounts figure includes newly acquired occupational pension entitlements.
The figures come from Eurostat, the OECD (United States) and national statistical offices (Germany, France, Switzerland). The data for 2025 and the first half of 2026 are still provisional.