Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) in Germany
Germany: Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) was 3,295 Thousand persons in 2026. ▼ Falling
Latest (2026)
3,295 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
6th
of 45 countries
All-time high
4,228 Thousand persons
in 2011
All-time low
3,295 Thousand persons
in 2026
Years of data
18
2008–2026
Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) in Germany, 2008–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
Germany recorded 3,295 Thousand persons for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) in 2026. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) in Germany peaked at 4,228 Thousand persons in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3,295 Thousand persons, in 2026.
Germany ranks 6th of 45 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) in Germany, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4,072 Thousand persons | — |
| 2009 | 4,218 Thousand persons | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 4,145 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 4,228 Thousand persons | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 4,186 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 4,138 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 4,077 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 4,099 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 4,044 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 3,964 Thousand persons | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 3,892 Thousand persons | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 3,913 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 3,520 Thousand persons | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 3,511 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 3,494 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 3,512 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 3,311 Thousand persons | -5.7% |
| 2026 | 3,295 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,145 Thousand persons | 4,072 Thousand persons | 4,218 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2010s | 4,068 Thousand persons | 3,892 Thousand persons | 4,228 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,441 Thousand persons | 3,295 Thousand persons | 3,520 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 economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) in Germany?
- Self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) in Germany was 3,295 Thousand persons in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 4,228 Thousand persons in 2011.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,295 Thousand persons in 2026.
- How does Germany rank for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026)?
- Germany ranks 6th out of 45 countries with data for 2026.
- Is self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) (2008-2026) rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.5%. 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 economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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