Community Pharmacies under pressure in Germany

The number of community pharmacies in Germany has been declining significantly, reaching its lowest level since the late 1970s.

This is one of the key findings of the statistical yearbook German Pharmacies: Figures, Data, Facts, 2025, published by ABDA – the Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists. The report provides a comprehensive overview of recent trends in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors in Germany and beyond.

Published on 16 July, the report reflects the challenges facing community pharmacies in the country, with a particular focus on closures. The number of pharmacies in Germany has been falling rapidly since 2009.

By the end of 2024, there were only 17,041 community pharmacies – the lowest figure since the late 1970s. At the same time, the opening of new pharmacies has also declined significantly.

One of the main reasons cited for this situation is the country’s current health policy, which places community pharmacies – whose remuneration has not been updated for 12 years – under considerable economic and financial pressure.

The document also addresses other relevant topics for the sector, such as pharmacy-based vaccination, medicine shortages across Europe, and the legal framework governing European pharmacies.

ABDA represents the interests of community pharmacists in Germany and promotes integrated, high-quality healthcare. Internationally, like ANF, the German organisation is a member of the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU), the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), and the World Pharmacy Council (WPC).