Inflation rates by country and year

-0.1%1.7%3.5%5.2%7%
-0.1%1.7%3.5%5.2%7%
19601.5%
19925.1%
20252.2%
Source: World Bank

Data: World Bank, annual %. For information only — not financial advice.

Year2025Inflation Rate2.2%

Behind the curve

Turning points in Germany

  1. 1973↑ Upward pressure

    The first oil crisis — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Texaco service station signs during the 1973 gasoline shortage in Portland, Oregon — image source on Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab)
    One of Many Service Stations in the Portland Area Carrying Signs Reflecting the Gasoline Shortage · David Falconer · U.S. National Archives (EPA DOCUMERICA) · Public domain

    The late-1973 oil embargo sharply increased import costs. Energy and production costs added to inflation that was already high in West Germany, with effects continuing into 1974.

    OECD · Germany economic survey, 1975
  2. 1979↑ Upward pressure

    The second oil crisis — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Cars queuing for fuel at a service station in Maryland, June 1979 — image source on Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab)
    Line at a gas station, June 15, 1979 · Warren K. Leffler · Library of Congress · Public domain

    Oil supply disruption around the Iranian Revolution sent oil prices sharply higher again. The new energy shock increased costs in West Germany and sustained price pressure into the early 1980s.

    Bundesbank · Oil price shocks, 2006
  3. 1990↑ Upward pressure

    Reunification and the demand boom — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Crowds at the Brandenburg Gate as the Berlin Wall opens, 1989 — image source on Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab)
    West and East Germans at the Brandenburg Gate in 1989 · Unknown photographer · reproduction by Lear 21 · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Monetary union and reunification brought a surge in spending and demand. Inflationary pressure built in the following years, prompting the Bundesbank to raise interest rates.

    Bundesbank · The reunification boom
  4. 2009↓ Downward pressure

    The Great Recession — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Lehman Brothers headquarters in Times Square, before its 2008 bankruptcy — image source on Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab)
    Lehman Brothers Times Square by David Shankbone · David Shankbone · CC BY-SA 3.0

    The financial crisis brought a deep recession. Falling energy prices and weaker demand reduced price pressure, leaving Germany with very low annual inflation in 2009.

    Bundesbank · Annual report, 2009
  5. 2020↓ Downward pressure

    The pandemic and temporary VAT cut — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Drive-through COVID-19 testing station on the Theresienwiese in Munich, April 2020 — image source on Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab)
    Covid19-Test München Theresienwiese 2020-04-01 · Henning Schlottmann · CC BY-SA 4.0

    During the first pandemic year, cheaper energy and a temporary reduction in VAT dampened consumer prices. This marks the initial disinflation, before the later reopening and supply bottlenecks.

    Destatis · Inflation in 2020
  6. 2022↑ Upward pressure

    War and the European energy crisis — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    The Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal under construction, July 2022 — image source on Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab)
    LNG-Terminal Wilhelmshaven (Baustelle, 15. Juli 2022) · Rhetos · CC0

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine intensified the energy crisis. Sharp increases in energy and food prices became major drivers of German inflation in 2022.

    Destatis · Inflation in 2022

These are selected historical influences, not a complete account of inflation. An upward-pressure event can coincide with a peak when its inflationary effect has already occurred or when other forces begin pushing inflation lower. The markers show the years in which events occurred, although their effects may extend into later years.

What is the inflation in Germany?

The annual inflation rate in Germany was 2.2% in 2025, the most recent year in the World Bank dataset. That means prices rose 2.2% on average compared with the year before. Use the chart above to explore Germany's full inflation history from 1960 to 2025, and to compare it with any other country.

How inflation in Germany has changed

Inflation in Germany peaked at 7.0% in 1973 and reached its lowest point at -0.1% in 1986. Averaged across the 66 years of available data (1960–2025), the rate has been 2.7% per year.

Frequently asked questions about inflation in Germany

What is the current inflation rate in Germany?

The latest available annual figure is 2.2% in 2025, from the World Bank. Because the figures are reported annually, they may not reflect the most recent monthly reading published by Germany's statistical office.

What was the highest inflation rate in Germany?

The highest annual inflation rate on record is 7.0%, reached in 1973.

What was the lowest inflation rate in Germany?

The lowest annual inflation rate on record is -0.1%, recorded in 1986.

Where does the inflation data for Germany come from?

All figures come from the World Bank's World Development Indicators (indicator FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG), which report annual consumer price inflation for more than 200 countries and territories from 1960 onward.