Primary income payments in Germany
Germany: Primary income payments was 284.85 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
284.85 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
9th
of 200 countries
All-time high
306.95 billion BoP, current US$
in 2023
All-time low
3.04 billion BoP, current US$
in 1971
Years of data
47
1971–2025
Primary income payments in Germany, 1971–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, primary income payments in Germany stood at 284.85 billion BoP, current US$.
The figure is down 6.5% on the previous year and up 95.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary income payments in Germany peaked at 306.95 billion BoP, current US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.04 billion BoP, current US$, in 1971.
That places Germany 9th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary income payments in Germany, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.04 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1972 | 3.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.9% |
| 1973 | 4.74 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.4% |
| 1974 | 6.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.1% |
| 1975 | 5.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.3% |
| 1976 | 5.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 7.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.8% |
| 1978 | 8.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 11.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +43.7% |
| 1980 | 14.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.6% |
| 1981 | 14.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 14.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.8% |
| 1983 | 12.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.9% |
| 1984 | 11.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.9% |
| 1985 | 12.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.7% |
| 1986 | 19.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +58.1% |
| 1987 | 26.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.0% |
| 1988 | 30.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1989 | 33.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.7% |
| 1990 | 49.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.4% |
| 1999 | 113.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +131.6% |
| 2000 | 123.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.1% |
| 2001 | 110.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.7% |
| 2002 | 124.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.4% |
| 2003 | 152.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.9% |
| 2004 | 160.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 184.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.5% |
| 2006 | 211.83 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.6% |
| 2007 | 287.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.7% |
| 2008 | 258.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.2% |
| 2009 | 178.72 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.7% |
| 2010 | 197.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 210.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 177.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.7% |
| 2013 | 165.83 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 170.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 145.64 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.5% |
| 2016 | 140.22 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 143.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 143.82 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 135.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.6% |
| 2020 | 115.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.8% |
| 2021 | 149.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.9% |
| 2022 | 185.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.4% |
| 2023 | 306.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +65.5% |
| 2024 | 304.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 284.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.5% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 284.85 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.26 billion BoP, current US$, 17.5× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Germany's 284.85 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.11 billion BoP, current US$, 25.6× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary income payments in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +131.6% | 49.21 billion BoP, current US$ | 113.97 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.19 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 11.61 billion BoP, current US$ | 9 |
| 1980s | 19.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 11.93 billion BoP, current US$ | 33.62 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 81.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 49.21 billion BoP, current US$ | 113.97 billion BoP, current US$ | 2 |
| 2000s | 179.10 billion BoP, current US$ | 110.02 billion BoP, current US$ | 287.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 163.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 135.79 billion BoP, current US$ | 210.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 224.48 billion BoP, current US$ | 115.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 306.95 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 6 Luxembourg 413.92 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 7 France 348.85 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 8 Singapore 321.53 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 10 Switzerland 256.00 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 11 Hong Kong 245.64 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 12 Canada 196.42 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Germany
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.7761 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.6565 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0214 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,295 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 95.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 51.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0188 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,140 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 51.4 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary income payments in Germany?
- Primary income payments in Germany was 284.85 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest primary income payments recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 306.95 billion BoP, current US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest primary income payments recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.04 billion BoP, current US$ in 1971.
- How does Germany rank for primary income payments?
- Germany ranks 9th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary income payments rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 95.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Primary income payments (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Primary income payments refer to employee compensation paid to nonresident workers and investment income (payments on direct investment, portfolio investment, other investments).This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.