to the topics Current account of the Federal Republic of Germany, Foreign Trade, International investment position and external debt, Financial Account and Direct investment statistics 

Germany’s current account surplus decreased significantly in 2025, falling by €52 billion to €203 billion. As a share of GDP, the balance declined by 1½ percentage points to 4½ %, its second-lowest level in 20 years. This was mainly due to a smaller surplus in the goods account.

Comparing foreign direct investment in Germany in the immediate resident sector/activity (IRSA) and in the ultimate resident sector/activity (URSA), the total volume is €1,034 billion, compared with €739 billion. The difference between these two approaches is due, amongst other things, to the fact that different balance sheets are included in the calculation of the FDI volume. Specifically, these are either the balance sheets of the immediate direct investment enterprise or the balance sheets of the enterprises that constitute the first operating units of a holding company on a “look-through” basis. Only the first operating units that are majority owned through dependent holding companies are included. This means that enterprises that are indirectly held with less than 50% in total are not included in the calculation.