Persons employed in circular economy sectors by country
Countries reporting
37
Highest
771,814 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Germany
Lowest
8,145 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Malta
Median
66,309 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Years covered
19
2005β2023
Data points
722
What the numbers show
Persons employed in circular economy sectors is currently reported for 37 countries. The highest value is 771,814 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in Germany; the lowest is 8,145 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in Malta.
The median across all reporting countries is 66,309 Full-time equivalent (FTE), and the mean is 165,936 Full-time equivalent (FTE).
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 95.
Over the past decade 31 countries rose and 6 fell. The largest increase was in Luxembourg (up 236.9%), and the largest decrease in Latvia (down 13.2%).
Persons employed in circular economy sectors: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 771,814 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 24.9% | rising |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 563,692 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 563,692 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 4 | France | 537,036 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 8.5% | rising |
| 5 | Italy | 507,749 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 6 | Spain | 428,345 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 17.7% | rising |
| 7 | Poland | 411,141 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 7.6% | rising |
| 7 | Poland | 411,141 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 7.6% | rising |
| 9 | Romania | 198,459 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | down 2.9% | rising |
| 10 | Czechia | 137,827 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 4.9% | rising |
| 11 | Portugal | 117,372 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 14.6% | rising |
| 12 | Netherlands | 110,564 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 9.7% | rising |
| 12 | Netherlands | 110,564 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 9.7% | rising |
| 14 | Hungary | 109,363 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 11.0% | rising |
| 15 | Bulgaria | 95,233 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | down 5.5% | falling |
| 16 | Sweden | 79,323 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 17 | Greece | 76,522 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 18.1% | flat |
| 18 | Croatia | 66,309 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 19.1% | rising |
| 18 | Croatia | 66,309 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 19.1% | rising |
| 20 | Austria | 65,849 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 21 | Slovakia | 64,966 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 5.9% | rising |
| 21 | Slovakia | 64,966 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 5.9% | rising |
| 23 | Belgium | 61,760 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | down 3.0% | rising |
| 24 | Lithuania | 61,452 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 17.1% | rising |
| 24 | Lithuania | 61,452 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 17.1% | rising |
| 26 | Estonia | 54,510 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 180.2% | rising |
| 26 | Estonia | 54,510 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 180.2% | rising |
| 28 | Finland | 41,773 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | down 6.7% | flat |
| 29 | Denmark | 41,556 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 30 | Ireland | 36,056 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 11.6% | rising |
| 31 | Latvia | 32,971 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | down 13.2% | falling |
| 31 | Latvia | 32,971 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | down 13.2% | falling |
| 33 | Slovenia | 29,463 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 46.8% | rising |
| 33 | Slovenia | 29,463 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 46.8% | rising |
| 35 | Luxembourg | 21,482 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 236.9% | rising |
| 36 | Cyprus | 13,849 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 73.6% | rising |
| 37 | Malta | 8,145 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 26.7% | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) 4.37 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)