Barmer: Fewer Absences in 2025 in the North - Germany's sick leave drops in 2025, but northern states lag behind

Sick leave across Germany has fallen again in 2025, with the national average dropping to 22 days per person. In northern Germany, however, some states still recorded higher rates, particularly Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The latest figures show a gradual return to pre-pandemic trends.

Schleswig-Holstein saw a slight decline in sickness absence during 2025. Employees took an average of 23.0 days off due to illness, down from 23.4 days in the previous year. The state's absence rate also fell to 6.3%, reflecting a weakening of the post-coronavirus catch-up effect.

Elsewhere in northern Germany, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern reported the highest figure at 23.9 days per person. Lower Saxony followed with 20.0 days, while Bremen recorded 19.0 days. Despite these variations, all three states remained above the federal average of 22.0 days.

Nationally, the overall sickness absence rate decreased to 6.03% in 2025. The trend suggests a steady recovery as pandemic-related disruptions continue to fade.

The 2025 data confirms a downward trend in sick leave across Germany. Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern still lead in northern Germany, though their rates are slowly improving. The national figures indicate a broader return to more typical absence levels.