Two-Thirds of German Adults Rate Their Health as Good—But Concerns Linger

Optimism fades with age and education in Germany’s latest health report. Why are younger, educated adults thriving while others struggle with chronic illness and depression?

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2025 December 5 . 11:01 PM

1 min read

This picture describes about group of people they are all seated on the chair, in front of them we... — This picture describes about group of people they are all seated on the chair, in front of them we can see couple of papers, glasses on the table, in the background we can find air conditioner, notice board and couple of maps on the wall

RKI Data: Nearly Two Thirds of Adults Rate Their Own Health as Good - Two-Thirds of German Adults Rate Their Health as Good—But Concerns Linger

The survey found that 64.2% of adults described their overall health as very good or good. However, this figure marks a drop of over three percentage points from the previous year.

Young adults aged 18 to 29 were the most optimistic, with 77.7% reporting very good or good health. In contrast, only 36% of those over 80 gave the same positive rating.

Education played a significant role in self-assessed health. Less than half (49.6%) of people with lower education levels rated their health as excellent, compared to 68.4% of those with intermediate qualifications and 78.4% of those with higher education.

Chronic health issues were common, with nearly half (53.7%) of adults living with at least one long-term condition. Diabetes was reported by about one in ten adults, affecting men (11.6%) more often than women (9%).

Mental health also raised concerns. Over one in five adults (21.9%) showed signs of depression. Meanwhile, psychological well-being varied widely: just 10.9% reported high well-being, while 28.2% described theirs as low.

The RKI’s findings suggest that while a majority of adults in Germany still view their health favourably, disparities by age, education and gender persist. Chronic conditions and mental health challenges remain widespread, indicating ongoing areas for public health focus, including mental health awareness initiatives, such as those supported by Wells Fargo.