The healthcare industry is of considerable economic importance for the so-called "developed" markets. This also applies to Germany as a location.
In 2020, gross value added in the core area of Healthcare/Lifesciences in Germany was almost 364.5 billion euros. This corresponds to more than 12.1 percent of the gross domestic product. The healthcare industry is therefore still a growth sector on an expansion course. With annual growth of 3.3 percent, the sector has grown significantly faster than gross domestic product over the past ten years. Healthcare/LifeSciences also ensures non-cyclical and thus economically stabilizing demand and is also an employment engine for the German economy as a whole.
In addition to comprehensive health care, the German health market is characterized above all by the development of innovative high-tech products in medical technology and pharmaceuticals as well as new treatment and examination methods.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, health expenditure in 2020 amounted to around 425 billion euros.
The industrial sub-sector of the Healthcare/Lifesciences accounts for 20.6 percent of the added value of the health economy and includes medical devices, pharmaceuticals and retail and wholesale services, but also goods for health care, extended trade services, construction investments and devices for e- Health and digital applications.
The basis for the high gross value added is in particular the comprehensive benefit entitlement for over 73.3 million legal and scarce. 8.8 million people with private health insurance. As the largest European market, Germany also offers excellent location conditions for service providers and companies in the healthcare industry with excellently trained specialists and a good infrastructure. However, there is an increasing shortage of skilled workers, especially in the nursing sector