Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Germany

Germany: Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private was 29.7% in 2026. ▼ Falling

Latest (2026)
29.7%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
31st
of 45 countries
All-time high
37.6%
in 2000
All-time low
29.1%
in 2019
Years of data
28
1998–2026

Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Germany, 1998–2026

0102030401998201220261998: 37.5 Percentage1999: 37.2 Percentage2000: 37.6 Percentage2001: 37.4 Percentage2002: 37.5 Percentage2003: 37.3 Percentage2004: 37.6 Percentage2005: 35.9 Percentage2006: 34.9 Percentage2007: 34.6 Percentage2008: 34.5 Percentage2009: 33.9 Percentage2010: 33.8 Percentage2011: 32.7 Percentage2012: 32.5 Percentage2013: 32.1 Percentage2014: 31.6 Percentage2015: 31.3 Percentage2016: 30.4 Percentage2017: 30 Percentage2018: 29.8 Percentage2019: 29.1 Percentage2021: 30.3 Percentage2022: 30 Percentage2023: 29.9 Percentage2024: 29.4 Percentage2025: 29.1 Percentage2026: 29.7 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

Germany recorded 29.7% for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in 2026.

That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Germany peaked at 37.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 29.1%, in 2019.

That places Germany 31st out of 45 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.

Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Germany, year by year

Annual values for Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households - quarterly data in Germany, 1998 to 2026.
Year Percentage Change
1998 37.5%
1999 37.2% -0.8%
2000 37.6% +1.1%
2001 37.4% -0.5%
2002 37.5% +0.3%
2003 37.3% -0.5%
2004 37.6% +0.8%
2005 35.9% -4.5%
2006 34.9% -2.8%
2007 34.6% -0.9%
2008 34.5% -0.3%
2009 33.9% -1.7%
2010 33.8% -0.3%
2011 32.7% -3.3%
2012 32.5% -0.6%
2013 32.1% -1.2%
2014 31.6% -1.6%
2015 31.3% -0.9%
2016 30.4% -2.9%
2017 30.0% -1.3%
2018 29.8% -0.7%
2019 29.1% -2.3%
2021 30.3% +4.1%
2022 30.0% -1.0%
2023 29.9% -0.3%
2024 29.4% -1.7%
2025 29.1% -1.0%
2026 29.7% +2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 37.4% 37.2% 37.5% 2
2000s 36.1% 33.9% 37.6% 10
2010s 31.3% 29.1% 33.8% 10
2020s 29.7% 29.1% 30.3% 6

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 28 Austria 30.9% compare
  2. 29 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 30.3% compare
  3. 29 United Kingdom 30.3% compare
  4. 32 Ireland 29.2% compare
  5. 33 Lithuania 29.0% compare
  6. 33 Lithuania 29.0% compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Germany?
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Germany was 29.7% in 2026, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in Germany?
The highest recorded value was 37.6% in 2000.
What is the lowest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 29.1% in 2019.
How does Germany rank for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private?
Germany ranks 31st out of 45 countries with data for 2026.
Is persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private rising or falling in Germany?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. 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 - % of total population in private households - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Germany. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/persons-outside-the-labour-force-percent-of-total-population-in-private-households/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,257 data points, 1998–2026
Last refreshed