Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Germany
Germany: Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) was 3,393 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Germany, 2008–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Germany is 3,393 Thousand persons, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Germany peaked at 4,268 Thousand persons in 2012 and was at its lowest, 3,393 Thousand persons, in 2025.
That places Germany 6th out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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) in Germany, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4,113 Thousand persons | — |
| 2009 | 4,180 Thousand persons | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 4,143 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 4,252 Thousand persons | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 4,268 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 4,183 Thousand persons | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 4,133 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 4,098 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 4,073 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 4,020 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 3,929 Thousand persons | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 3,882 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 3,468 Thousand persons | -10.7% |
| 2021 | 3,435 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 3,489 Thousand persons | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 3,485 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 3,458 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 3,393 Thousand persons | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,146 Thousand persons | 4,113 Thousand persons | 4,180 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2010s | 4,098 Thousand persons | 3,882 Thousand persons | 4,268 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,455 Thousand persons | 3,393 Thousand persons | 3,489 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) in Germany?
- Self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Germany was 3,393 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 4,268 Thousand persons in 2012.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,393 Thousand persons in 2025.
- How does Germany rank for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2)?
- Germany ranks 6th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. 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). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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