What’s the State of Wellbeing in Germany? Insights from the Wellbeing Compass 2025

Between work, daily life, and constant availability, there’s often little time to pause and reflect on your own wellbeing. The new Wellbeing Compass 2025 by Urban Sports Club surveyed 5,000 people across Europe – including 1,000 in Germany – and delivers some powerful answers: What’s good for us? What’s missing? And how can we improve our wellbeing?

About the study: The Wellbeing Compass is a Europe-wide study initiated by Urban Sports Club. In March 2025, the market research institute Appinio surveyed 5,000 people aged 18 to 55 across five countries (Germany, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Spain). The resulting Urban Sports Club Wellbeing Compass explores seven dimensions of wellbeing: physical, mental, social, occupational, spiritual, financial, and environmental.

The 7 Pillars of Wellbeing – And What They Mean for You

Movement matters more than ever!

1. Physical wellbeing

How you move, what you eat, how well you sleep – it all impacts your physical wellbeing. And physical wellbeing continues to grow in importance across Germany. But how satisfied are people really?

Fact: 34% of the respondents in Germany feel physically satisfied – slightly below the EU average of 36%. What stands out: 38% of the men who responded to our survey report much higher satisfaction than women (29%) – one of the largest gender gaps in the European countries surveyed. According to the study, lack of energy and time are key reasons behind this. This could, for example, be due to a higher share of care work.

What do the respondents in Germany want to improve their physical health?

• 41% want flexible working hours to make time for exercise – more than in any other European country surveyed.
• 38% want financial support from employers for fitness programs.

Interesting: Physical health ranks at the very top of personal goals for the coming year. 57% of the respondents in Germany want to improve their physical condition in the next 12 months – even higher than financial wellbeing (51%) or mental wellbeing (50%).

Tip: Physical activity not only strengthens muscles and the cardiovascular system – it also reduces the risk of depression, sleep disorders, and chronic disease. Just 30 minutes of movement a day can release feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine – and even ease symptoms of depression.

Less stress – but still room for improvement

2. Mental wellbeing

Mental wellbeing doesn’t mean always being happy – it means being able to deal with stress, worries, and pressure.

The good news first: Compared to many other countries, the respondents in Germany report feeling less stressed (35%) – in Portugal, it’s 43%, for example.

What boosts the mental wellbeing of the respondents in Germany?

• 38% eat healthier
• 33% spend more time outdoors
• 33% improve their sleep
• 31% exercise regularly

Still, many workplaces lack mental health support: 37% say their employer offers no mental health services. Meditation rooms, stress workshops, or work-life balance programs? Still a rarity.

Tip: Mental resilience can be trained – without pressure – through yoga, meditation, or mindful movement like Pilates. Exercise also reduces the stress hormone cortisol and triggers feel-good neurotransmitters.

Connection is key

3. Social wellbeing

People need social connection – especially in moments of loneliness. Social wellbeing means feeling seen, understood, and like you belong.

Fact: 43% of the respondents in Germany rate their social wellbeing as high – one of the best scores in the European countries we surveyed! Still, many report challenges in finding like-minded people (25%) or social insecurity (22%).

Many wish for more opportunities to meet new people – ideally through shared activities like sports or cultural events. Moving together – through dance classes or team sports – not only supports social wellbeing but also increases motivation to stay active long-term.

Tip: Group workouts, dance classes, or partner workouts bring people together – and help you connect with others.

Cost of living and uncertainty are major stressors

4. Financial wellbeing

Financial wellbeing means more than just a full bank account – it creates a sense of security and autonomy. But rising costs of living are weighing heavily on people in Germany.

Fact: 33% of the respondents in Germany cite high living costs as the biggest barrier to financial wellbeing. Other top concerns: limited income (31%) and lack of financial education (23%).

Many are calling for more support from their employers, including:

• Employee benefits (33%)
• Retirement plans (33%)
• Greater pay transparency (32%)

Positive: Out of the European countries we surveyed, Germany leads the way in offering employer-sponsored pension programs – 31% of employers offer them, ahead of the Netherlands (28%) and far ahead of Portugal (12%).

Why does financial wellbeing matter?
Financial insecurity has a direct impact on physical and mental health. People under chronic stress tend to sleep worse, exercise less, and are at higher risk of mental illness.

Between overtime and self-fulfillment

5. Occupational wellbeing

Work can inspire – or drain you. Occupational wellbeing means balancing pressure, purpose, and recovery. Many respondents in Germany find their work life overwhelming.

Fact: The biggest challenge to occupational wellbeing in Germany is high work pressure – 24% list it as the top barrier, followed by low pay (21%) and poor work-life balance (18%). At the same time, 43% say financial security would most improve their work life.

Good news: Germany leads the way in offering work-life balance measures in comparison to the other countries surveyed – 34% of employers already provide flexible models like hybrid work or flextime.

The desire for more balance is strong – and achievable.

Tip: Small rituals like micro-workouts, short walks, or digital detox breaks can help you recharge. Regular downtime is key to long-term performance. Employers should support this with flexible work options.

Emotional baggage as a barrier

6. Spiritual wellbeing

Purpose, values, and mindfulness offer stability – especially during tough times. Spiritual wellbeing doesn’t necessarily mean religion – it’s about self-reflection, inner balance, and feeling in tune with yourself.

Fact: Emotional strain is the biggest obstacle to spiritual development for 24% of the respondents in Germany. Encouragingly, there’s barely any gender gap: 34% of men and 33% of women report being satisfied with their spiritual wellbeing.

Still, spiritual support is often missing in the workplace: 43% of respondents in Germany say their employer offers no spiritual initiatives – though that’s still a relatively strong figure compared to other EU countries.

Tip: Sometimes it’s the small things that make a difference – journaling, meditative movement, or regular time in nature can help you reconnect with your values.

Sustainability yes – but affordable, please

7. Environmental wellbeing

How we live, where we live, and what we consume also affect our wellbeing. Environmental wellbeing isn’t just about being eco-friendly – it’s about whether your surroundings energize or drain you.

Fact: 25% of the respondents in Germany say high prices for sustainable products stop them from living more environmentally consciously. Only 19% are actively working toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle. And 16% say they just don’t see the point in making such changes.

The Wellbeing Compass 2025 results show: In Germany, awareness of physical, mental, and social wellbeing is growing – and that’s a good thing. But the findings also make one thing clear: There’s still a long way to go before we truly feel well in all areas of life.

Not everything is in your control – but you can take the first step. Urban Sports Club is here to support you in actively and confidently shaping your wellbeing. Because when you feel good, you live healthier, more balanced, and with greater joy.

Would you like to use the results for an article or your own project? Then get in touch via [email protected] – we’re happy to share the key insights with you.