Almost 20 sick days per employee in Germany in 2025, study shows

Employees in Germany took an average of 19.5 sick days in 2025, figures from a leading health insurance provider showed.

A study by DAK-Gesundheit found respiratory illnesses including colds and flu, poor mental health and musculo-skeletal disorders such as back pain were the leading reasons for health-related work absences.

Last year's figure was largely unchanged from the average of 19.7 days of sick leave reported in 2025.

DAK chief Andreas Storm told dpa that the study shows absences due to illness and injury are stabilizing at a high level. "That is why it is right and necessary to press ahead with thorough research into the causes," he argued.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has in recent days taken aim at the high level of sick leave, questioning whether doctors should be allowed to write employees off via telephone consultations, a policy introduced in 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic.

Health Minister Nina Warken said the measure is under review to examine whether it is being abused.

Thanking Merz for raising the issue of high sick leave, Storm called for a summit in the chancellery to bring together employers, unions, doctors and health insurance providers.

According to the DAK analysis, sick leave remained stable at an elevated level of 5.4% last year, meaning 54 of every 1,000 employees were absent due to health every working day.

For the study, the Berlin-based IGES Institute evaluated data from around 2.4 million employees insured with DAK.