SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Germany
Germany: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) was 3.82 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Germany, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Germany is 3.82, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 13.7% on the previous year and down 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Germany peaked at 4.98 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 2.98, in 2023.
That places Germany 56th out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4.98 | — |
| 2015 | 4.61 | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 4.1 | -11.0% |
| 2017 | 3.78 | -7.9% |
| 2018 | 3.38 | -10.5% |
| 2019 | 3.16 | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 3.88 | +22.7% |
| 2021 | 3.54 | -8.8% |
| 2022 | 3.1 | -12.5% |
| 2023 | 2.98 | -3.9% |
| 2024 | 3.36 | +13.0% |
| 2025 | 3.82 | +13.7% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 3.82 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.87, 78% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Germany's 3.82 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.82, 66% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4 | 3.16 | 4.98 | 6 |
| 2020s | 3.45 | 2.98 | 3.88 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Germany?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Germany was 3.82 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 4.98 in 2014.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.98 in 2023.
- How does Germany rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition)?
- Germany ranks 56th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.