Overweight in Germany: Federal Statistical Office's 2025 Statistics

The statistics are particularly striking for men: in 2025, 19.9 percent of men in Germany were classified as obese. For women in the same year, 43.8 percent were overweight and 15.8 percent were obese. While the proportion of overweight women is lower than that of men, more than one in three women are affected here as well.

Development Since 2017: Weight Increases, Height Stagnates

The average body weight of Germans has continuously increased in recent years. In 2025, the average person weighed 78.3 kilograms. In 2021, this figure was still 77.7 kilograms, and in 2017, it was 77 kilograms. The data is based on the microcensus surveys conducted by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden.

Development Since 2017: Weight Increases, Height Stagnates In parallel with the weight development, the average height of the population has hardly changed. In 2025, it was 1.73 meters – the same as in 2021. In 2017, the average was 1.72 meters, one centimeter lower. The average woman is 1.66 meters tall, and the average man is 1.79 meters tall.

Differences Between Age Groups

The statistics also show clear differences between age groups. According to the data, those aged 18 to 24 are the lightest group with an average of 72.5 kilograms. In contrast, those aged 50 to 59 weigh the most at 81.3 kilograms. Overall, body weight increases up to middle age and then decreases again in older age.

Differences Between Age Groups Striking differences are also evident in body height: the 18 to 24-year-olds are the tallest group at 1.75 meters, while the age group from 75 years upwards is the smallest with an average of 1.68 meters. These figures reflect generational differences, which statisticians attribute, among other things, to changing living conditions and dietary habits.

Overall, the presented data clearly shows that overweight is widespread among the German adult population and that the average weight has been tending to increase for years. The Federal Statistical Office's survey thus provides an important basis for health policy debates, for example, on prevention, nutrition education, and physical activity in everyday life. However, the statisticians do not make any direct statements about the causes of the development.

All data on weight and height refer to adult individuals aged 18 and over. The data comes from the microcensus, an annual household survey conducted by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden. It is considered one of the most important data sources for official statistics in Germany.