Savings rate: Germans save less – but far ahead internationally

Germans are still saving at almost a world-class level – but are no longer saving as much money as they did last year. In the first half of 2025, the savings rate of private households in Germany was 10.3 percent – meaning that for every 100 euros of disposable income, an average of 10.30 euros was saved. This corresponds to an average monthly amount of almost 270 euros per resident, as calculated by the Federal Statistical Office.

In the first six months of 2024, the savings rate was even higher at 11.1 percent. In the long term, the current savings rate still corresponds roughly to the average level since 2000, according to the Wiesbaden statisticians. In surveys, many respondents repeatedly say that they are currently not saving at all or are saving less because the costs of daily expenses such as food have risen.

Record savings rate in Corona times

In the long-term view, the statisticians exclude the years 2020 and 2021: During the corona pandemic, many people had more money left over than in normal times because, for example, vacation trips were canceled and leisure facilities were temporarily closed. This drove the savings rate to record levels: according to the latest calculation, it was 16.0 percent in 2020 and 14.2 percent a year later. For comparison: in 2024 as a whole, the savings rate in Germany was 11.2 percent.

Only in a few countries are savers more eager

In an international comparison, the Germans, who are famous for their willingness to save, are, according to statistics, way ahead. Measured by the so-called gross savings rate – this is the savings rate before deduction of depreciation on residential property of private households, for example – private households in Germany achieved a value of 20 percent for the year 2024.

This puts Germany well above the EU average of 14.6 percent. According to the European statistics agency Eurostat, private households in France saved 17.9 percent of their gross disposable income in 2024, in Austria it was 17.3 percent, in the Netherlands 16.8 percent and in Italy 11.9 percent.

According to the figures, savers in only a few countries were more eager last year than in this country. Switzerland achieved a gross savings rate of 26.1 percent. In the USA the savings rate was 10.8 percent.

In other countries, investors make more of their money

However, people in Germany traditionally park a lot of money in current accounts that often have comparatively low interest rates. Depending on how high inflation is, the money there even loses purchasing power. In contrast, many investors in the USA, for example, make more of their savings, as analyzes show: There, more is placed on the stock markets.