Below you will find basic demographic and economic data for Germany, plus specific information about the country's medical device and healthcare industries.
Germany medical device industry: The German medical device market is the largest in Europe and the third largest in the world. It was valued at $26 billion in 2014 and continues to grow despite a sluggish European economy.
Some of the best-known medical device manufacturers are based in Germany, and some major players from around the world have operations in Germany. However, small- to mid-sized medical device companies make up the majority of the industry.
Opportunities in the German market: Germany is an attractive market due to its consistent growth and sophisticated approach to healthcare. The healthcare industry is receptive to new, innovative technologies to maintain a high level of care for Germany's aging demographic, which makes up more than 20% of the population. Demand for highly innovative technologies and diagnostic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive equipment remains high. Many German manufacturers export their products, leaving an opportunity for foreign importers to capitalize on these demands.
Industry challenges in Germany: Germany is a major player in the global medical device market, in terms of market reach and innovation, but the domestic market lagged behind other major European markets in recent years. German manufacturers export their products to other markets to maintain growth. Importers will also face competition from major global device manufacturers that are well established in the German market.
| GERMANY | UNITED KINGDOM | FRANCE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 80,854,408 | 64,088,222 | 66,553,766 |
| Primary language(s) | German | English | French |
| Total healthcare spending | $437 billion | $252 billion | $330 billion |
| Healthcare expenditures total (% of GDP) | 11.3% | 9.1% | 11.5% |
| Healthcare expenditures per capita | $5411 (USD) | $3935 (USD) | $4959 (USD) |
| Expenditures on healthcare | Government: 77% Private: 23% |
Government: 83% Private: 17% |
Government: 78% Private: 22% |
| Size of medical device market (USD) | $26 billion (USD – 2014) | $9.5 billion (USD) | $14.5 billion (USD) |
| Number of hospital beds | 8.2 per 1000 people | 2.9 per 1000 people | 6.4 per 1000 people |
| Age distribution | 0-14 years: 13% 15-64 years: 66% 65 years and over: 21% (2015 est.) |
0-14 years: 17% 15-64 years: 65% 65 years and over: 18% (2015 est.) |
0-14 years: 19% 15-64 years: 72% 65 years and over: 19% (2015 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | Male: 78 years Female: 83 years |
Male: 78 years Female: 83 years |
Male: 78 years Female: 85 years |
| Currency | Euro (€) | Pound sterling (£) | Euro (€) |
Want to see how Germany compares to many other countries in Europe and around the world? Download our free PDF Healthcare spending by country.
Since the publication of ISO 13485:2016, risk management is a major concern for maintaining regulatory compliance in major medical device markets.
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