SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Germany

Germany: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 5.8 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
5.8
Change on year
down 6.7%
World rank
27th
of 57 countries
All-time high
12.11
in 2005
All-time low
5.8
in 2022
Years of data
18
2005–2022

SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Germany, 2005–2022

02.557.51012.52005201320222005: 12.12006: 9.72007: 11.12008: 10.32009: 10.72010: 10.22011: 8.62012: 8.32013: 8.22014: 8.22015: 8.22016: 7.32017: 6.92018: 6.62019: 6.12020: 6.72021: 6.22022: 5.8

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Germany is 5.8, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.

The figure is down 6.7% on the previous year and down 30.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Germany peaked at 12.11 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 5.8, in 2022.

That places Germany 27th out of 57 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.

SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Germany, year by year

Annual values for SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Germany, 2005 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2005 12.11
2006 9.68 -20.1%
2007 11.1 +14.6%
2008 10.32 -7.0%
2009 10.69 +3.6%
2010 10.19 -4.7%
2011 8.6 -15.6%
2012 8.35 -3.0%
2013 8.24 -1.3%
2014 8.24 +0.1%
2015 8.2 -0.5%
2016 7.31 -10.9%
2017 6.89 -5.7%
2018 6.56 -4.9%
2019 6.13 -6.5%
2020 6.69 +9.1%
2021 6.22 -7.0%
2022 5.8 -6.7%

Germany compared with similar countries

  • Germany's 5.8 is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.26, 93% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
  • Germany's 5.8 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.65, 87% of the median. (34 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 10.78 9.68 12.11 5
2010s 7.87 6.13 10.19 10
2020s 6.24 5.8 6.69 3

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 24 Denmark 6.38 compare
  2. 25 Ireland 6.27 compare
  3. 26 Cyprus 6.24 compare
  4. 27 Russia 5.8 compare
  5. 29 Senegal 5.78 compare
  6. 30 Belgium 5.69 compare

See the full ranking of 57 places →

More work & labour data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Germany?
Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Germany was 5.8 in 2022, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Germany?
The highest recorded value was 12.11 in 2005.
What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 5.8 in 2022.
How does Germany rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
Germany ranks 27th out of 57 countries with data for 2022.
Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in Germany?
Over the last ten years it is down 30.5%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Germany. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/sdg-indicator-8-5-2-unemployment-rate-previous-ilo-definition-icls13/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
57 places, 861 data points, 2004–2025
Last refreshed

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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.