• German GDP Grows 0.3% in Q4 2025 After Two Recessionary Years
WIESBADEN, Germany – Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the third quarter, according to data released on January 30, 2026.
The increase, driven primarily by private and state consumption, signals a slight economic recovery after two years of recession.
What is new?
The German economy’s gross domestic product grew by 0.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025 on a price, seasonal, and calendar-adjusted basis. This growth followed a turbulent year, particularly for foreign trade. For the full year of 2025, the price-adjusted GDP increased by 0.2%, while the price- and calendar-adjusted figure showed a 0.3% rise. These annual figures confirm the initial estimates released on January 15, 2026.
Trade and Price Developments
Import prices in December 2025 were 2.3% lower than in December 2024, marking the largest year-on-year decrease since March 2024. Compared to the previous month, November 2025, import prices fell by 0.1%. For the full year 2025, import prices were on average 0.3% lower than in 2024. In contrast, export prices in December 2025 showed no change compared to the same month in the previous year but decreased by 0.1% from November 2025. The average for 2025 showed a 1.0% increase in export prices compared to 2024.
Labor Market Data
In December 2025, approximately 45.9 million people residing in Germany were employed. According to preliminary calculations, the number of employed persons decreased slightly by 5,000 people (0.0%) on a seasonally adjusted basis compared to the previous month. This follows an average monthly decline of 11,000 people from May to November 2025. Compared to December 2024, the number of people employed fell by 0.2%.
About this company
Destatis, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Statistisches Bundesamt), is the country’s main provider of official statistics. Headquartered in Wiesbaden, it collects, processes, and disseminates statistical information on Germany’s economy, society, and environment.