Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Germany
Germany: Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation was 2,942 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
2,942 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
9th
of 45 countries
All-time high
4,004 Thousand persons
in 2012
All-time low
2,942 Thousand persons
in 2025
Years of data
31
1995–2025
Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Germany, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Germany stood at 2,942 Thousand persons. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Germany peaked at 4,004 Thousand persons in 2012 and was at its lowest, 2,942 Thousand persons, in 2025.
Germany ranks 9th of 45 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Germany, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3,197 Thousand persons | — |
| 1996 | 3,271 Thousand persons | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 3,348 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 3,382 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 3,446 Thousand persons | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 3,492 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 3,474 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 3,455 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 3,560 Thousand persons | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 3,690 Thousand persons | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 3,870 Thousand persons | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 3,908 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 3,921 Thousand persons | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 3,893 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 3,953 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 3,914 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 3,999 Thousand persons | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 4,004 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 3,891 Thousand persons | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 3,825 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 3,774 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 3,733 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 3,672 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 3,557 Thousand persons | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 3,507 Thousand persons | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 3,122 Thousand persons | -11.0% |
| 2021 | 3,083 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 3,098 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 3,071 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 3,024 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 2025 | 2,942 Thousand persons | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,329 Thousand persons | 3,197 Thousand persons | 3,446 Thousand persons | 5 |
| 2000s | 3,721 Thousand persons | 3,455 Thousand persons | 3,953 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,788 Thousand persons | 3,507 Thousand persons | 4,004 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,057 Thousand persons | 2,942 Thousand persons | 3,122 Thousand persons | 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 self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Germany?
- Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Germany was 2,942 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 4,004 Thousand persons in 2012.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,942 Thousand persons in 2025.
- How does Germany rank for self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation?
- Germany ranks 9th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.0%. 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 Self-employed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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