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Data source: Federal Statistical Office

Geographical Area: Germany

Note: 2021 to 2024 provisional data.

This table includes additional information to the above visualized indicators, i.e. a short definition of this indicator and a description of the politically determined target values as well as explaining the political intention behind selecting this indicator.

Definition (Text from the Indicator Report 2022 - State 31.10.2022)

The indicator shows the share of gross fixed capital formation relative to nominal gross domestic product (which means at current prices). This share is also referred to as the investment ratio. The level of gross fixed capital formation includes additions (that is, acquisitions less disposals without taking into account consumption of fixed capital) of fixed assets by resident economic units. Fixed assets are produced assets that are designed for repeated or continuous use in production processes for longer than a year. These include buildings and structures (dwellings, other buildings and structures), equipment (machinery, vehicles, tools including weapons systems) and other assets (intellectual property such as investments in research and development, computer software and databases, entertainment, literary or artistic originals, mineral exploration and evaluation as well as animal resources and tree, crop and plant resources). Also included are improvements on existing stocks of fixed assets that lead to a significant increase in the value of an asset and/or prolong its useful life.

Definition

The indicator represents the share of gross fixed capital formation in nominal gross domestic product (GDP), i.e. in current prices (in per cent). This share is also referred to as the investment ratio. Gross fixed capital formation comprises the acquisition (i.e. acquisitions less disposals, excluding depreciation) of fixed assets by resident economic units. Fixed assets are produced assets that are intended to be used repeatedly or continuously in the production process for more than one year. These include buildings (residential, non-residential), equipment (machinery, vehicles, equipment including military weapon systems) and other assets (livestock and crops as well as intellectual property such as investments in research and development, software and databases, copyrights and exploratory drilling). Significant improvements to existing fixed assets are also included.

Intention

The future economic performance and competitiveness of an economy depend crucially on the investments made by companies and the state.

Target

Appropriate development of the ratio; To be maintained until 2030

Type of target

Target direction

Implemen­tation in weather symbol calculation

The target allows for various interpretations. For the assessment of the indicator carried out here, it is assumed that the ratio of gross fixed capital formation to gross domestic product should increase.


Based on the formulation of the target, it is not relevant for the assessment of the indicator whether the increase is achieved by an increase in the numerator or a reduction in the denominator. The values of indicator 8.3 fell both in 2024 and on average between 2019 and 2024, i.e. the values did not develop in the desired direction. Indicator 8.3 is rated as “Thunderstorm” for the year 2024.

Assessment

Weathersymbol: Thuder strom

Data state

25.02.2025

8.3 Gross fixed capital formation in relation to GDP

The investment ratio is considered a key economic indicator for future economic development. It represents the ratio of gross fixed capital formation to gross domestic product (GDP).

Gross fixed capital formation comprises the value of assets acquired or constructed by domestic economic units for use in the production process for more than one year. It consists of equipment (machinery and equipment, including military weapons systems), buildings (residential and non-residential), and other assets (largely consisting of research and development, software, and databases). Impairment of equipment and assets is not taken into account.

The investment ratio is calculated by the Federal Statistical Office within the framework of national accounts (SNA) according to internationally harmonized standards – in particular on the basis of the European System of National and Regional Accounts (ESA).

At the beginning of the 1990s, the investment ratio was just under 25%, but within about ten years it fell to its current low of 18.8 %. Since 2009, the investment ratio has grown moderately and relatively steadily until 2022. Between 2022 and 2024, the ratio declined comparatively significantly and, according to preliminary data, was most recently at 20.9 %. Gross fixed capital formation totaled 898 billion euros in 2024, of which 126 billion euros was attributable to the government sector and 772 billion euros to the non-government sector.

While construction investments have consistently accounted for around 50 % of investments since 1991, the shares of equipment and other investments have changed significantly: While 40 % of investments were made in capital goods in 1991, this share fell to 29 % by 2024. During the same period, the share of investments in research and development as well as in software and databases rose from 11 % to 19 %.

In addition to the breakdown by product groups, gross fixed capital formation can also be broken down by the economic sectors in which the investments were made. The smallest share in 2023 was recorded in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, at 1.4 %. Manufacturing accounted for approximately 22 % of investments (1991: over 28 %). The remaining 76% was invested in the services sector (1991: 70 %). Within the services sector, real estate and housing was the most strongly represented, accounting for 33 % of the total.

Despite rising nominal investment, Germany remains weak in terms of investment by international standards. Since 1996, the investment rate has consistently been below the average of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which was 22.4 % in 2023.