Overview

• Pool admission costs rose 5.7% year-on-year in May 2025, more than double the national inflation rate of 2.1%.
• Men’s swimwear prices increased by 0.6% while women’s sports and bathing attire fell by 1.1% over the same period.
• Germany operates about 2,800 outdoor pools and 570 natural baths, with average travel times of ten minutes by car but over 20 minutes in some rural areas.
• Training for pool operations grew by 3% in 2023 with roughly 600 new trainees, of whom nearly 68% were men.
• Municipal budgets are strained by higher pool operating costs, prompting the cities and municipalities association to request more support from federal and state governments.