Societal cost of Long COVID and ME/CFS in Germany severely underestimated - €63 billion in 2024 alone

A new report by the ME/CFS Research Foundation and Risklayer has estimated the combined societal cost of Long COVID and ME/CFS in Germany at €63 billion per year (as of 2024).

Hamburg, 12 May 2025

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To mark International ME/CFS Day on 12 May, the ME/CFS Research Foundation and the risk modelling company Risklayer have published a joint study that for the first time provides up-to-date data on the incidence and costs of Long COVID and ME/CFS (myalgic encepahlomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) in Germany. The results are significant: the study finds that between 2020 and 2024, Long COVID and ME/CFS cost Germany more than 250 billion Euros. The annual cost in 2024 alone amounted to 63.1 billion Euros, corresponding to around 1.5% of GDP.

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Over 1.5 million patients in Germany

According to the study, there were around 871,000 active Long COVID and 650,000 ME/CFS cases in Germany in December 2024. In total, more than 1.5 million people in Germany are affected by these severe, chronic multisystemic diseases, for which there is currently no effective treatment or cure. Both diseases often lead to permanent functional limitations and incapacity to work.

Personal impact and economic burden

Long COVID and ME/CFS result in the loss of everyday life function, work and social participation for many patients. Young people are often no longer able to continue their education. Family carers take on a large part of the care under great strain, all while travelling long distances to seek diganosis and treatment. At a societal level, there are also considerable costs: for medical care, nursing care, loss of work, social benefits and lost tax revenue. Companies suffer productivity losses and purchasing power is lost.

Infection incidence underestimated - number of disease cases continues to increase

Although the pandemic is officially considered to be over since April 2023, the report uses innovative measurement methods and data collection to show that SARS-CoV-2 continued to circulate in several infection waves in 2024. This "hidden" infection pattern has continued to contribute to the emergence of new Long COVID and ME/CFS cases. A decline in the number of cases is not foreseeable.

Research expenditure disproportionate to the damage

Joerg Heydecke, Managing Director of the ME/CFS Research Foundation and co-author of the study, warns: 
"The calculated damage of 63 billion Euros is currently offset by only 15-20 million Euros a year in public funding for diagnostics and treatment research. This is neither medically nor economically justifiable. A targeted and sustainable expansion of biomedical research could avoid considerable costs in just a few years time - and give hundreds of thousands of patients new prospects for life and work."

Aim of the study: initiate debate, improve care

With the report and the specially-developed data model, the ME/CFS Research Foundation and Risklayer want to initiate a broad debate on the occasion of International ME/CFS Day: How can the healthcare system, how can policymakers respond appropriately to the growing scale of post-infectious diseases? One thing is clear: the investments made to date are far from sufficient.

Call from the scientific community: strengthen clinical research now

Prof Dr Carmen Scheibenbogen (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin) emphasises:
"These figures show how high the social damage caused by Long COVID and ME/CFS is. Without effective therapies, the costs will remain high in the long term. However, current research results already show initial therapeutic successes and prospects. Further therapeutic approaches should be clinically trialled as soon as possible. We urgently need more financial support for this, all the more now as in the USA, unfortunately, most research approaches and planned therapy studies are under threat of being stopped. Determined investment in biomedical research, especially clinical research, would probably make real prospects of a cure possible for some of the patients in only a few years' time."

About the methodology of the study

The study combines data from emergency departments (DGINA), intensive care units (DIVI register), wastewater measurements (AMELAG) and international research findings. The model developed calculates societal damage on the basis of proven methods for disaster impact assessment - including economic, medical and social effects at various levels.

Healthcare emergency for ME/CFS: an untenable situation

ME/CFS has been recognised by the WHO since 1969, but is still largely ignored in Germany. Diagnosis is complex, effective therapies are lacking, symptomatic medication is rarely prescribed and hardly ever reimbursed.

In 2024, there were only very few specialised outpatient clinics in Germany. Many patients are permanently unable to work or in need of care. Their medical care and social security is often precarious.

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All information and data from the study (German and English):

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How can you support the work of the ME/CFS Research Foundation?

There is still a long way to go before diagnosis, care and treatment of ME/CFS patients will one day become a medical and social standard. We at the ME/CFS Research Foundation are focussing on biomedical research, which we see as the key element in solving these problems (more on this in our research funding strategy and in our half-year report (summer 2024), which summarises our activities). To do this, we need extensive support from private donors – those affected, relatives, families, friends, associations, schools, networks, companies, initiatives, event organisers and all supporters. And if you are not able to provide direct support, you can share our story and motivate others to help. Because only together can such a feat be achieved.

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