Persons outside the labour force not … Persons willingness work not in Germany
Germany: Persons outside the labour force not … Persons willingness work not was 18,090 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
18,090 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
3rd
of 47 countries
All-time high
23,170 Thousand persons
in 2004
All-time low
17,302 Thousand persons
in 1990
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Germany, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
Germany recorded 18,090 Thousand persons for persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in 2025.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 4.8% 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, 17,302 Thousand persons, in 1990.
Germany ranks 3rd 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 not … Persons willingness work not in Germany, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 23,116 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 18,877 Thousand persons | -18.3% |
| 1985 | 18,694 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 18,390 Thousand persons | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 18,428 Thousand persons | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 18,086 Thousand persons | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 17,978 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 17,302 Thousand persons | -3.8% |
| 1991 | 21,023 Thousand persons | +21.5% |
| 1992 | 21,719 Thousand persons | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 22,291 Thousand persons | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 22,750 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 22,766 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 23,144 Thousand persons | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 22,965 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 22,998 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 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 | 22,005 Thousand persons | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 21,539 Thousand persons | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 21,393 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 21,148 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 21,332 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 20,560 Thousand persons | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 19,776 Thousand persons | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 19,632 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 19,221 Thousand persons | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 19,000 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 18,998 Thousand persons | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 18,619 Thousand persons | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 18,380 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 18,260 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 17,820 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 18,596 Thousand persons | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 18,494 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 18,291 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 18,297 Thousand persons | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 18,247 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 18,090 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 18,090 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,646 Thousand persons, 11.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Germany's 18,090 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,721 Thousand persons, 10.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 19,081 Thousand persons | 17,978 Thousand persons | 23,116 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 21,966 Thousand persons | 17,302 Thousand persons | 23,144 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 22,249 Thousand persons | 21,148 Thousand persons | 23,170 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,027 Thousand persons | 17,820 Thousand persons | 20,560 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,336 Thousand persons | 18,090 Thousand persons | 18,596 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 1 Türkiye 27,415 Thousand persons compare
- 2 Italy 18,364 Thousand persons compare
- 4 France 16,710 Thousand persons compare
- 5 United Kingdom 14,230 Thousand persons compare
- 5 United Kingdom 14,230 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 18,090 Thousand persons in 2025, 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 17,302 Thousand persons in 1990.
- How does Germany rank for persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by?
- Germany ranks 3rd out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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