Press release
Societal costs of Long COVID and ME/CFS continue to rise – €64.4 billion in 2025 alone
Hamburg, 27 April 2026
The ME/CFS Research Foundation and Risklayer, a risk modelling company, have published new data and findings on the societal costs of Long COVID and ME/CFS in Germany. The publication ist ein Update der im Mai 2025 erstmals veröffentlichten Studie. Die Studie beziffert die jährlichen gesellschaftlichen Gesamtkosten durch Long COVID und ME/CFS in Deutschland für das Jahr 2025 auf 64,4 Milliarden Euro, nachdem sie 2024 noch 63,1 Milliarden Euro betrugen. Das entspricht etwa 1,44% des Bruttoinlandsprodukts.
According to the report, the total costs since the start of the pandemic (2020–2025) amount to over €318.8 billion. The costs were modelled using established methods for assessing the impact of disasters, which take social, medical and economic effects into account. The data model itself is available as open source for discussion.
Over 1.4 million patients – a situation that remains dire
Laut der aktualisierten Studie leben in Deutschland zum Dezember 2025 mehr als 1,4 Millionen Menschen mit diesen oft schweren und bisher unheilbaren Multisystemerkrankungen. Davon sind rund 757.000 Menschen an Long COVID und weitere 657.000 Menschen an ME/CFS erkrankt. Während die Zahl der ME/CFS-Fälle im Jahr 2025 im Vergleich zum Vorjahr leicht anstieg, gingen die Long COVID-Fälle etwas zurück. Beide Erkrankungen führen weiterhin zu dauerhaften Funktionseinschränkungen und Erwerbsunfähigkeit, da sie mangels hinreichender Forschung nicht ursächlich therapierbar sind.
The personal hardships and economic damage remain immense
For many sufferers, Long COVID and ME/CFS result in the loss of their daily routine, their jobs and their social lives. Even young people are often unable to continue their education. Family carers take on the bulk of the caregiving, under immense strain. At a societal level, significant costs continue to arise: for medical care, nursing care, lost working hours, social security benefits and lost tax revenue. Businesses suffer productivity losses, and purchasing power is lost. The persistently high costs since 2022 demonstrate the immense societal and economic burden.
High number of unreported SARS-CoV-2 infections – resulting in new cases of Long COVID and ME/CFS
The incidence of infection remains high: in 2025, between 13 and 15 million people in Germany were infected with SARS-CoV-2. This is shown by data analyses based on viral load measurements in wastewater and reports from A&E departments and intensive care units. The actual number of SARS-CoV-2 infections is 80 to 200 times higher than the figures in the official statistics of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and reveals a significant number of unreported cases. The persistently high number of new infections inevitably leads to new cases of Long COVID and, with a time lag, also to new cases of ME/CFS.
Research expenditure is out of all proportion to the damage caused – there is an urgent need for biomedical research
Current analyses and a comparison with international studies show that a further rise in post-infectious diseases within the population is to be expected in the coming years. Given the lack of effective treatment options, the costs incurred are likely to remain high. The authors therefore urge targeted and effective investment in research and the development of treatments. The report recommends intensifying biomedical research through targeted investment in the development of biomarkers, diagnostics and therapies as a crucial contribution to reducing the high burden of disease. A significant reduction in costs can only be achieved by lowering prevalence, increasing recovery rates and reducing the severity of existing conditions. The report also contains further recommendations for accelerating research progress in this field.
Joerg Heydecke, Managing Director of the ME/CFS Research Foundation and co-author of the study, warns: “Our latest analyses show that, even six years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Long COVID and ME/CFS continue to place a heavy burden on those affected and on society. Annual costs of €64.4 billion now stand in contrast to €500 million in government research funding announced for the next 10 years. It is crucial that these funds are allocated swiftly and effectively. The development of effective treatment options is the only way to achieve sustainable cost reductions. The success of the ‘National Decade’ will be measured by whether effective therapies become available in the coming years.”
Background: As part of the “National Decade Against Post-Infectious Diseases”, the German government plans to invest 50 million euros annually in research into post-infectious diseases between 2026 and 2036. The funding objectives formulated to date include research projects in the fields of disease mechanisms and immunology, diagnostics and biomarkers, neurology and mental health, as well as ME/CFS. Strengthening clinical trials is also a key priority.
Vollständige Studie: Die Studie samt Datenmodell ist auf der Webseite der ME/CFS Research Foundation verfügbar. Risklayer stellt die verwendeten Daten zur öffentlichen Prüfung zur Verfügung.
https://mecfs-research.org/costreport-long-covid-and-mecfs/
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About ME/CFS Research Foundation
The non-profit ME/CFS Research Foundation, based in Hamburg, funds and supports biomedical research into ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and Long COVID. The aim is to develop diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to improve the current inadequate standard of care. The foundation works closely with researchers and ME/CFS patient organisations.
Due to a lack of research to date, there is still no effective treatment for these common and serious multisystemic diseases. The foundation funds research projects, connects researchers, ensures transparency regarding research progress, and provides facts and resources to raise awareness.
About Risklayer
Risklayer is a Karlsruhe-based consultancy specialising in risk analysis and risk management, with many years of experience in modelling critical events and natural disasters (e.g. geophysical and meteorological events, conflicts). Its clients include numerous governments, NGOs and companies worldwide. The company has offices in Germany and Australia.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it provided researchers, the media and public authorities with independent, data-driven analyses, including daily infection figures for Germany.
Homepage: https://www.risklayer.com
About ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and long COVID:
ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is a chronic, severe multisystemic condition characterised by a wide range of disorders, primarily affecting the nervous and immune systems. ME/CFS is predominantly post-infectious in origin, including as a consequence of COVID-19. It is the most severe form of Long COVID. People with ME/CFS experience pronounced physical and cognitive symptoms, a very low quality of life and often a high degree of disability. Between 60 and 75 per cent of all sufferers are unable to work, and many are confined to their homes or beds. The key symptom is severe exercise intolerance with a worsening of symptoms following everyday activities (post-exertional malaise, or PEM for short). Due to the current lack of biomarkers, diagnosing ME/CFS is only possible through a detailed medical history and multidisciplinary diagnostic process to rule out other conditions. Many doctors lack the necessary expertise. It often takes years for those affected to receive a diagnosis. To date, there is no effective treatment. Adults with ME/CFS currently have little prospect of recovery and reintegration into working life. The prognosis is better for children and young people, yet long-term absences from school are the norm. For most sufferers, participation in normal life—including work, education, friends, sport, hobbies, etc.—is not possible.
In Deutschland lag die Zahl der Menschen, die mit ME/CFS leben, im Jahr 2025 bei mehr als 657.000. Ein Teil der durch COVID-19 an Long COVID bzw. Post-COVID-Syndrom erkrankten Personen erfüllt die Diagnosekriterien für ME/CFS. Bereits vor der COVID-19-Pandemie lebten etwa 400.000 Menschen in Deutschland mit ME/CFS. Weltweit liegt die Zahl der Betroffenen bei weit über 40 Millionen. Die medizinische Versorgungslage der Erkrankten ist ungenügend. Oft kommt es zu Fehldiagnosen und daraus resultierenden Folgeschäden.
Die hohe Zahl der Betroffenen ist für alle Bereiche der Versorgung sowie auch ökonomisch, durch den krankheitsbedingten Ausfall von Ausbildungszeit und Arbeitskraft, ein zunehmend kritischer Faktor.
All the figures and sources mentioned can be found on our website: https://mecfs-research.org/was-ist-me-cfs