Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Germany
Germany: Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level was 18,572 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
18,572 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
2nd
of 47 countries
All-time high
23,939 Thousand persons
in 2004
All-time low
17,830 Thousand persons
in 1990
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Germany, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Germany is 18,572 Thousand persons, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Germany peaked at 23,939 Thousand persons in 2004 and was at its lowest, 17,830 Thousand persons, in 1990.
Germany ranks 2nd of 47 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Germany, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 23,312 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 19,229 Thousand persons | -17.5% |
| 1985 | 19,105 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 18,880 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 18,863 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 18,578 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 18,481 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 17,830 Thousand persons | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 21,608 Thousand persons | +21.2% |
| 1992 | 22,421 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 23,151 Thousand persons | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 23,474 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 23,664 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 23,777 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 23,637 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 23,627 Thousand persons | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 23,398 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 23,743 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 23,668 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 23,776 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 23,709 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 23,939 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 23,040 Thousand persons | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 22,591 Thousand persons | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 22,402 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 22,271 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 21,988 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 21,165 Thousand persons | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 20,335 Thousand persons | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 20,187 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 19,786 Thousand persons | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 19,539 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 19,536 Thousand persons | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 19,180 Thousand persons | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 18,943 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 18,784 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 18,336 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 19,096 Thousand persons | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 18,946 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 18,740 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 18,765 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 18,716 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 18,572 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 18,572 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,718 Thousand persons, 10.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Germany's 18,572 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,789 Thousand persons, 10.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 19,492 Thousand persons | 18,481 Thousand persons | 23,312 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 22,659 Thousand persons | 17,830 Thousand persons | 23,777 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 23,113 Thousand persons | 21,988 Thousand persons | 23,939 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,579 Thousand persons | 18,336 Thousand persons | 21,165 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,806 Thousand persons | 18,572 Thousand persons | 19,096 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 1 Türkiye 27,616 Thousand persons compare
- 3 Italy 18,486 Thousand persons compare
- 4 France 17,284 Thousand persons compare
- 5 United Kingdom 14,593 Thousand persons compare
- 5 United Kingdom 14,593 Thousand persons compare
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 persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Germany?
- Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Germany was 18,572 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 23,939 Thousand persons in 2004.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,830 Thousand persons in 1990.
- How does Germany rank for persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level?
- Germany ranks 2nd out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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