Labor force participation rate in Germany
Germany: Labor force participation rate was 60.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Germany, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Germany is 60.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Germany peaked at 61.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 57.5%, in 2004.
Germany ranks 99th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.2% | — |
| 1991 | 59.6% | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 59.1% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 58.5% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 58.7% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 58.3% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 58.0% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 58.2% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 58.2% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 58.3% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 58.0% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 57.9% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 57.8% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 57.8% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 57.5% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 58.3% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 59.0% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 59.1% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 59.1% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 59.2% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 59.3% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 59.9% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 60.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 60.3% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 60.4% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 60.2% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 60.4% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 60.7% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 60.9% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 61.3% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 60.5% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 60.8% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 61.0% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 60.9% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 60.6% | -0.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 60.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 97% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Germany's 60.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.5% | 58.0% | 59.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.4% | 57.5% | 59.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.3% | 59.3% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.7% | 60.4% | 61.0% | 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 labor force participation rate in Germany?
- Labor force participation rate in Germany was 60.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 61.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.5% in 2004.
- How does Germany rank for labor force participation rate?
- Germany ranks 99th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. 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 Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).