Germany's life expectancy reaches record highs in 2025

Germany's average life expectancy at birth rose to new record levels in 2025, reaching 83.6 years for women and 79.1 years for men, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Compared with 2024 the figures rose by roughly two months for women and three months for men, and they are up by about nine months for women and over a year for men relative to 2022, reflecting a rebound after the pandemic‑related decline.

For people aged 65, the remaining life expectancy increased to 21.2 years for women and 18.2 years for men. Regional differences persist: Baden‑Württemberg records the highest values (84.4 years for women, 80.3 years for men), while the lowest figures are in Saarland for women (82 years) and Sachsen‑Anhalt for men (76.4 years). The gender gap is widest in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, exceeding six years, and narrowest in Baden‑Württemberg and Saarland, just over four years.

The data have sparked discussion about pension policy, with a recent commission proposal to link retirement age to life‑expectancy gains – each additional year of life expectancy would translate into eight months of longer work and four months of extended pension benefits.