RKI Study Exposes Low Health Literacy and Stark Socioeconomic Disparities in German Health

New findings from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reveal a concerning picture of health literacy and health inequalities in Germany. According to the data published on December 5, 2025, four out of five German adults exhibit low general health literacy, meaning a large segment of the population struggles to understand and manage health information effectively. This challenge transcends educational backgrounds but is most pronounced among those with lower socioeconomic status.

The RKI’s longitudinal health panel, involving more than 40,000 participants aged 16 and above, found that two-thirds of Germans rate their health as good or very good. However, this optimistic self-assessment varies widely by education and income. For example, 78.4% of highly educated individuals rated their health positively, compared to only 49.6% among those with lower education. Similarly, only about a quarter (26.3%) of high-income individuals reported poor health, whereas 45.8% of adults living in poverty assessed their health as mediocre to very poor.

Mental health concerns are significant, with 21.9% of adults reporting depressive symptoms and 14% experiencing anxiety, particularly young women. Moreover, only 10.9% reported high psychological well-being, while nearly 28.2% felt low well-being.

The data further highlights that men and women struggle with knowledge and resources for healthy nutrition—over half of men and more than one-third of women lack adequate information to maintain a healthy diet.

Germany also ranks low internationally in political health prevention measures, especially in controlling tobacco and alcohol consumption, as noted by the AOK’s Public Health Index.

Health scientist Susanne Jordan from the RKI emphasized the urgent need for improving health education and access to trustworthy health information. "Structural factors, including living conditions, must be addressed to reduce inequalities," she said. The RKI recommends stronger policies such as taxing unhealthy products and targeted health promotion to improve outcomes, especially among disadvantaged groups.

This comprehensive report offers critical insights for German health policy amid growing socioeconomic health disparities and widespread challenges in health literacy, signaling the need for coordinated public health efforts to support vulnerable populations.