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Data source: Federal Statistical Office

Geographical Area: Germany

This table includes additional information to the above visualized indicators, i.e. a short definition of this indicator and a description of the politically determined target values as well as explaining the political intention behind selecting this indicator.

Definition

The indicator shows price-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (inhabitants) in Germany at 2015 prices. GDP measures the value of all goods and services produced in the domestic economy; inhabitants means all persons whose permanent residence is in Germany.

Target and intention

Changes in GDP are related in a variety of ways to other indicators included within the strategy for sustainable development. Social factors such as the population structure, the labour supply, the educational system and social cohesion play an important role in society with regard to international economic competitiveness. GDP is regarded as an important indicator of the strength and growth of a national economy, and so the goal is to achieve continuous and appropriate levels of GDP growth.

Data status

The data published in the indicator report 2022 is as of 31 October 2022. The data shown on this platform is updated regularly, so that more current data may be available online than published in the indicator report 2022.

Text from the Indicator Report 2022 

In 2021, the price adjusted GDP was 38,509 euros per capita and, thus, 2.6 % higher than in the previous year. Between 1991 and 2021, price-adjusted GDP per head of population increased by a total of 38.8 %. In consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the price adjusted GDP per head of population decreased in 2020 by 3.8 %. Only in 2009, price adjusted per capita GDP fell by 5.4 % as a result of the global financial and economic crisis and, thus, decreased to a larger extent. The absent definition for appropriate and continuous economic growth causes the consideration of the average annual change for the preceding five years. These was 0.7 %. Therefore, the indicator developed in a positive direction long-term.

Considering the results of the German Länder, Mecklenburg Western Pomerania had the lowest (26,500 euros) and Hamburg had the highest (59,700 euros) real GDP per capita.

GDP expresses the value of total economic output produced within the country in a reference period. It focuses primarily on market goods and services and public goods and services. The value of GDP is determined quarterly and annually by the Federal Statistical Office and the statistical offices of the Länder on the basis of internationally harmonised rules and standards, such as the European System of National and Regional Accounts (ESA).

GDP is a key variable in the national accounts. The national accounts are the consolidation of several accounts that portray the economic activity of a given period. The results are recorded in the form of a closed sequence of accounts and presented in tables. The national accounts calculations were last reviewed and revised in 2019 as part of their periodic major revision, and the reference year was changed to 2015. This resulted in new rates of change for real gross domestic product as a whole. The overall economic picture, however, has remained largely unchanged.

GDP is not designed to portray all of the social aspects that can be included in a measurement of overall well-being. If these variables are to be measured too, Additional indicators are needed that are specifically designed for these purposes. This includes e.g. environmental economic accounts that portray the interactions between the economy and the environment and indicators showing, for example, the volume of unpaid work in households. Furthermore, the distribution of income and assets among different population groups is not shown by GDP either.

Stock changes are not reflected in GDP, except in the case of capital stock resulting from the calculation of investments and depreciation. Key economic variables like quantities and qualities of human capital, such as education and health, of social capital, such as security and integration, and of natural capital, such as resources and ecosystems, are not factored into GDP. It is therefore impossible to conclude whether GDP and its growth have served to preserve capital in the fullest sense. This means that GDP cannot be used to gauge the sustainability of economic growth.

The basis for the calculation of per capita GDP comprise the average population figures interpolated and extrapolated by the Federal Statistical Office from the 2011 census data.

The synoptic table provides information about the evaluation of the indicator in previous years. It shows if the weather symbol assigned to an indicator was rather stable or volatile in the past years. (Evaluation of the Indicator Report 2022 )

Indicator

8.4 Gross domestic product per capita

Target

Steady and appropriate economic growth

Year

2018

2019

2020

2021

Evaluation <p>Sonne</p>
<p>Sonne</p>
<p>Leicht bewölkt</p>
<p>Sonne</p>