The Health System Research Institute of the Barmer health insurance company analyzed the number of insured individuals diagnosed with “mental and behavioral disorders caused by alcohol” in 2023 and extrapolated the figures to the entire population of Germany.
According to the study, over two-thirds of those struggling with addiction are men. The most vulnerable age group was identified as 55 to 64 years old. In this demographic, approximately 293,000 men and 114,000 women were diagnosed with alcohol dependence in 2023.
The study also revealed regional disparities, with people in northern and eastern Germany being more likely to suffer from alcohol addiction compared to other parts of the country. The highest prevalence was observed in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (2.61%), followed by Saxony (2.27%), Saxony-Anhalt (2.21%), Brandenburg (2.10%), and Thuringia (2.09%). The lowest rates were recorded in North Rhine-Westphalia (1.51%), Rhineland-Palatinate (1.47%), Baden-Württemberg (1.46%), and Hesse (1.45%). The national average stood at 1.69%.
It is important to note that individuals without an official diagnosis were not included in the study. “The actual number of those suffering from addiction is significantly higher,” stated Barmer CEO Christoph Straub.
