The number of breweries in Germany is decreasing. In 2019, there were 1,552 breweries in the country, which was the highest figure in three decades, and in 2025 this figure dropped to 1,415, marking a decline of nearly 9%, reported the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden on Tuesday, August 4.
In just the past year, the number of German breweries has decreased by 53, with a decline observed for three consecutive years. "Apparently, this trend is due to a decrease in beer sales," noted the statistical office. In 2025, German beer producers sold about 7.8 billion liters of product, which is 6.0% less than the previous year and 15.7% less than the figure for 2019.
"The German brewing industry is going through an economically challenging period," stated Holger Eichele, head of the Association of German Brewers. According to him, brewers are facing not just a temporary drop in demand but structural changes. The consistently low consumer sentiment, caused by economic and political uncertainty, as well as demographic trends, negatively impacts enterprises.
"Breweries notice that young people, on average, consume less alcohol than previous generations," Eichele explained. Although the demand for non-alcoholic beer is growing, it cannot compensate for the decline in traditional beer sales, it was further noted.
More than a third of German breweries are located in Bavaria
Among the 16 federal states of Germany, the highest number of breweries (588), according to data for 2025, are located in Bavaria. It is followed by Baden-Württemberg (190) and North Rhine-Westphalia (131).
More than half of German breweries are small enterprises producing no more than 100,000 liters of product per year. Eight corporations fall into the category of large brewing companies with a production volume of at least 200 million liters of beer per year, writes "Deutsche Welle."
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