Pollution, grime or other environmental problems in Germany
Germany: Pollution, grime or other environmental problems was 16.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Pollution, grime or other environmental problems in Germany, 2005–2023
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
The most recent figure for pollution, grime or other environmental problems in Germany is 16.8%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.4% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pollution, grime or other environmental problems in Germany peaked at 25.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 13.5%, in 2020.
That places Germany 4th out of 47 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Pollution, grime or other environmental problems in Germany, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 21.7% | — |
| 2006 | 24.5% | +12.9% |
| 2007 | 21.8% | -11.0% |
| 2008 | 23.1% | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 22.8% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 21.1% | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 23.1% | +9.5% |
| 2012 | 22.4% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 22.4% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 22.8% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 23.4% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 23.2% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 24.5% | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 24.8% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 25.2% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 13.5% | -46.4% |
| 2023 | 16.8% | +24.4% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 16.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.4%, 1.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Germany's 16.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.3%, 1.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Pollution, grime or other environmental problems 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -46.4% | 25.2% | 13.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22.8% | 21.7% | 24.5% | 5 |
| 2010s | 23.3% | 21.1% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.2% | 13.5% | 16.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More environment data for Germany
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.613 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.11 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.0079 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pollution, grime or other environmental problems in Germany?
- Pollution, grime or other environmental problems in Germany was 16.8% in 2023, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest pollution, grime or other environmental problems recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 25.2% in 2019.
- What is the lowest pollution, grime or other environmental problems recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.5% in 2020.
- How does Germany rank for pollution, grime or other environmental problems?
- Germany ranks 4th out of 47 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pollution, grime or other environmental problems rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Pollution, grime or other environmental problems. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).