Germany's aging doctors and rising vacancies strain healthcare system
Germany's healthcare system is facing growing challenges as the medical workforce ages and demand rises. New figures show a slight increase in the number of general practitioners, but thousands of positions remain empty. At the same time, more doctors are working part-time, and a significant share is nearing retirement age.
By the end of 2025, the total number of office-based physicians in Germany reached 191,875. Among them, general practitioners saw a modest rise to 55,778. Despite this increase, around 5,000 family doctor positions stay vacant.
The workforce is also shifting in terms of age and working hours. The average age of physicians dropped slightly to 54.4 years, yet concerns remain. In western Germany, one in five family doctors is over 65, with some regions faring worse—43.5 percent of GPs in Rhineland-Palatinate's Cochem-Zell district fall into this age group. Over the next two decades, 25,000 full-time doctors are expected to retire. Part-time work has surged, with 40 percent of physicians now reducing their hours—a 135 percent jump since 2015. Women make up 53.2 percent of psychotherapists and doctors nationwide, with higher concentrations in eastern states. However, the KBV warns that despite a slight rise in full-time GPs since 2015, overall care capacity has declined. Factors include an aging workforce, heavier administrative loads, and more complex patient needs.
The data highlights a strained system where more doctors are working fewer hours while demand grows. With thousands of positions unfilled and a wave of retirements ahead, Germany's healthcare sector must address both recruitment and retention. The KBV's findings suggest that without intervention, access to primary care could worsen in the coming years.
