Employment rate in Germany
Germany: Employment rate was 58.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate in Germany, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Germany is 58.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Germany peaked at 59.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 51.3%, in 2004.
Germany ranks 88th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 56.4% | — |
| 1992 | 55.3% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 54.1% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 53.6% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 53.5% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 52.9% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 52.5% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 52.5% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 53.2% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 53.4% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 53.4% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 52.9% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 52.2% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 51.3% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 51.8% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 52.9% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 53.9% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 54.7% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 54.5% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 55.1% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 56.3% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 56.7% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 57.1% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 57.4% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 57.4% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 57.9% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 58.4% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 58.8% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 59.4% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 58.1% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 58.2% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 58.9% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 59.2% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 58.8% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 58.3% | -0.9% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 58.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 58.9%, 99% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Germany's 58.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.6%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.8% | 52.5% | 56.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 53.1% | 51.3% | 54.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.5% | 55.1% | 59.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.6% | 58.1% | 59.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More work & labour data for Germany
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0549 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0388 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 66,826 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,413 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 35,391 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 35,508 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 70,900 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Germany?
- Employment rate in Germany was 58.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 59.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.3% in 2004.
- How does Germany rank for employment rate?
- Germany ranks 88th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.