Persons outside: quarterly data … quarterly willingness work not in Germany
Germany: Persons outside: quarterly data … quarterly willingness work not was 18,273 Thousand persons in 2026. ▼ Falling
Latest (2026)
18,273 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
2nd
of 47 countries
All-time high
23,170 Thousand persons
in 2004
All-time low
17,624 Thousand persons
in 2019
Years of data
28
1998–2026
Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Germany, 1998–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Germany is 18,273 Thousand persons, measured in 2026.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Germany peaked at 23,170 Thousand persons in 2004 and was at its lowest, 17,624 Thousand persons, in 2019.
Germany ranks 2nd of 47 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
Persons outside: quarterly data … quarterly willingness work not in Germany, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 22,998 Thousand persons | — |
| 1999 | 22,702 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 23,055 Thousand persons | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 22,917 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 22,995 Thousand persons | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 22,934 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 23,170 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 21,917 Thousand persons | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 21,251 Thousand persons | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 21,164 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 20,996 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 20,940 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 20,372 Thousand persons | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 19,573 Thousand persons | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 19,498 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 19,205 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 18,933 Thousand persons | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 18,852 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 18,340 Thousand persons | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 18,082 Thousand persons | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 17,958 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 17,624 Thousand persons | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 18,094 Thousand persons | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 18,192 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 18,219 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 18,008 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 17,770 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2026 | 18,273 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 18,273 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,579 Thousand persons, 11.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Germany's 18,273 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,587 Thousand persons, 11.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22,850 Thousand persons | 22,702 Thousand persons | 22,998 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2000s | 22,134 Thousand persons | 20,940 Thousand persons | 23,170 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,844 Thousand persons | 17,624 Thousand persons | 20,372 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,093 Thousand persons | 17,770 Thousand persons | 18,273 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 1 Türkiye 27,976 Thousand persons compare
- 3 Italy 18,121 Thousand persons compare
- 4 France 16,504 Thousand persons compare
- 5 United Kingdom 14,434 Thousand persons compare
- 5 United Kingdom 14,434 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 not seeking employment by in Germany?
- Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Germany was 18,273 Thousand persons in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 23,170 Thousand persons in 2004.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,624 Thousand persons in 2019.
- How does Germany rank for persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by?
- Germany ranks 2nd out of 47 countries with data for 2026.
- Is persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. 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 not seeking employment by willingness to work - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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