In 2025, cardiovascular diseases accounted for 334,100 deaths in Germany, according to figures released by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden. This total represents a 1.5% decrease compared to the prior year. When measured against 2022, deaths resulting from cardiovascular conditions fell by 6.7%, a decline larger than the 5.6% reduction observed in total deaths over the same period. Among these conditions, fatalities caused by heart attacks dropped by 15.2%, while cerebrovascular diseases—including strokes, cerebral hemorrhages, and cerebral infarctions—decreased by 6.3%.
These reductions mark a reversal of previous trends established between 2019 and 2022, a timeframe during which deaths from heart attacks rose by a total of 5.3% and fatalities from cerebrovascular diseases increased by 4%. The subsequent drop in heart attack fatalities since 2022 affected both genders similarly, with a 14.1% decline among men and a 16.8% decrease among women. All age groups registered declines, with the most pronounced drop of 30.6% recorded among individuals aged 80 to 85. For cerebrovascular diseases, fatalities among men declined by 4.6% since 2022, while deaths among women fell by 7.7%.
Across the entire country, approximately 1.01 million people died in Germany in 2025, marking a 0.1% decrease from 2024 and lowering total deaths for the third consecutive year. Following cardiovascular illnesses, cancer or malignant neoplasms constituted the second leading cause of death with 228,800 fatalities, trailed by respiratory system diseases, which accounted for 81,200 deaths. Combined, these top three categories accounted for nearly two-thirds, or 64%, of all deaths recorded during the year.
The ranking of primary causes of death remained unchanged when evaluated separately by gender. For women, the three most frequent causes of death were unspecified dementia at 7.7% representing 39,200 cases, chronic ischemic heart disease at 5.8% representing 29,400 cases, and heart failure at 4.3% representing 21,900 cases. For men, the three leading causes were chronic ischemic heart disease at 7.7% representing 38,700 cases, malignant neoplasms of the bronchi and lung at 5.2% representing 26,200 cases, and acute myocardial infarction at 4.8% representing 23,800 cases.
Methodologically, the statistics categorize deaths in accordance with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Cerebrovascular diseases are grouped under ICD-10 codes I60 through I69, and heart attacks fall under codes I21 through I22. The rankings utilize three-digit codes including C34 for malignant neoplasm of the bronchus and lung, F03 for unspecified dementia, I21 for acute myocardial infarction, I25 for chronic ischemic heart disease, and I50 for heart failure.
