
Gross debt in Germany
The government gross debt refers to the total of all sums of money that have to be paid to other countries, communities or institutions. Not included in the gross debt are the demands of a country to foreign ones.The gross debt in Germany in the period from 1998 to 2020 was between 1.13 trillion and 2.98 trillion USD. The hightest level within the past 22 years was reached in 2011. However, the liabilities in 2020 have been only 2.6 trillion USD The budget deficit in the same year was 165.9 billion USD.
Based on the number of inhabitants, this is a debt of 31,787 USD per person. For comparison, the average debt per person in the same year in the European Union was 30,783 USD.
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Gross debt of the last 22 years in billion USD
Year | Germany total | Germany per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | 1,317.63 bn USD | 16,059 USD | 14,079 USD |
1999 | 1,305.89 bn USD | 15,906 USD | 14,032 USD |
2000 | 1,155.91 bn USD | 14,060 USD | 11,232 USD |
2001 | 1,132.28 bn USD | 13,750 USD | 11,255 USD |
2002 | 1,246.00 bn USD | 15,105 USD | 12,258 USD |
2003 | 1,589.56 bn USD | 19,259 USD | 15,286 USD |
2004 | 1,834.98 bn USD | 22,238 USD | 17,595 USD |
2005 | 1,922.97 bn USD | 23,317 USD | 18,327 USD |
2006 | 2,003.07 bn USD | 24,316 USD | 18,877 USD |
2007 | 2,197.83 bn USD | 26,716 USD | 20,898 USD |
2008 | 2,460.03 bn USD | 29,960 USD | 24,086 USD |
2009 | 2,495.59 bn USD | 30,470 USD | 25,361 USD |
2010 | 2,787.51 bn USD | 34,087 USD | 26,496 USD |
2011 | 2,977.70 bn USD | 37,094 USD | 29,231 USD |
2012 | 2,848.02 bn USD | 35,412 USD | 28,174 USD |
2013 | 2,924.38 bn USD | 36,262 USD | 29,981 USD |
2014 | 2,927.65 bn USD | 36,152 USD | 30,648 USD |
2015 | 2,416.60 bn USD | 29,584 USD | 25,918 USD |
2016 | 2,393.84 bn USD | 29,070 USD | 26,261 USD |
2017 | 2,386.46 bn USD | 28,872 USD | 27,024 USD |
2018 | 2,437.04 bn USD | 29,395 USD | 28,448 USD |
2019 | 2,291.25 bn USD | 27,575 USD | 27,168 USD |
2020 | 2,643.43 bn USD | 31,787 USD | 30,783 USD |
Comparison of gross debt per capita with the European Union in U.S. dollars
Budget deficit in Germany

The budget balance in Germany in the period between 1998 and 2020 varied between -165.90 billion euros and +76.10 billion euros. In 2020, Germany reached a balance of -166 billion euros.
In ratio to population, this equals a new indebtedness of 1,995 euros per capita in Germany in 2020. For comparison, the average debt per capita in the European Union in the same year was 2,312 euros.
Budget deficit and surplus in the last 22 years
Year | Germany total | Germany per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | -47.16 bn USD | -575 USD | -398 USD |
1999 | -31.23 bn USD | -380 USD | -204 USD |
2000 | 21.50 bn USD | 262 USD | 112 USD |
2001 | -57.90 bn USD | -703 USD | -299 USD |
2002 | -77.55 bn USD | -940 USD | -565 USD |
2003 | -100.85 bn USD | -1,222 USD | -840 USD |
2004 | -105.66 bn USD | -1,280 USD | -920 USD |
2005 | -97.81 bn USD | -1,186 USD | -822 USD |
2006 | -51.73 bn USD | -628 USD | -568 USD |
2007 | 6.45 bn USD | 78 USD | -360 USD |
2008 | -4.36 bn USD | -53 USD | -1,085 USD |
2009 | -107.47 bn USD | -1,312 USD | -2,021 USD |
2010 | -148.86 bn USD | -1,820 USD | -1,970 USD |
2011 | -33.05 bn USD | -412 USD | -1,462 USD |
2012 | 0.33 bn USD | 4 USD | -1,220 USD |
2013 | 1.49 bn USD | 19 USD | -1,027 USD |
2014 | 22.54 bn USD | 278 USD | -852 USD |
2015 | 32.25 bn USD | 395 USD | -577 USD |
2016 | 40.26 bn USD | 489 USD | -423 USD |
2017 | 49.31 bn USD | 597 USD | -263 USD |
2018 | 76.10 bn USD | 918 USD | -139 USD |
2019 | 57.21 bn USD | 688 USD | -197 USD |
2020 | -165.90 bn USD | -1,995 USD | -2,312 USD |
(negative numbers = deficit)