Wiesbaden – November 03, 2026 -- German producers made 7.42 billion liters of sugary soft drinks in 2025, 4.1% less than the almost 7.74 billion liters of 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Output of calorie-reduced light drinks and mineral water rose over the same period, as the federal government plans to introduce a levy on sugary beverages.
Light cola and lemonade output rises 5.1% to 1.61 billion liters
Producers made 1.61 billion liters of calorie-reduced cola and lemonade in 2025, up from 1.53 billion liters in 2024. Per capita production of light drinks rose from just over 18 liters to just over 19 liters. Sugary drinks still clearly outweigh light products by volume. Per capita output of sugary drinks fell from almost 93 liters to about 89 liters.
The sugary category covers regular cola, lemonade, fruit spritzers, flavored waters, vitamin and energy drinks and other soft drinks such as fizzy sodas.
Mineral water output climbs 2.7% to 13.07 billion liters
Mineral, table and medicinal water remains the largest category. Production reached almost 13.07 billion liters in 2025, against 12.72 billion liters in 2024. Per capita output rose from just over 152 liters to almost 157 liters.
WHO data put 60.6% of German adults in the overweight range
High sugar consumption raises the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, Destatis noted. Citing the World Health Organization (WHO), it reported that 24.5% of German adults and 9.6% of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 lived with obesity in 2024. Global rates were 16.4% for adults and 8.2% for children and adolescents.
The share of overweight adults (BMI of 25 or above) in Germany has been largely constant since 2006 and stood at 60.6% in 2024, up from 54.0% in 1994. Among children and adolescents, 25.1% were overweight. WHO puts the global figures at 45.2% for adults and 19.8% for children and adolescents. Worldwide adult obesity more than doubled between 1994 and 2024, and child and adolescent obesity more than tripled.
116 countries levied sugar taxes on beverages in 2024
WHO counted 116 countries with a tax on sugary drinks in 2024, including France, Poland, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India and South Africa.
The production statistics cover plants of companies with 20 or more employees in manufacturing. Per capita figures use a population of 83,467,117 at the end of 2025 and 83,577,140 at the end of 2024.