Self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data (occupation) in Germany
Germany: Self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data (occupation) was 3,351 Thousand persons in 2026. ▼ Falling
Latest (2026)
3,351 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
6th
of 47 countries
All-time high
4,228 Thousand persons
in 2011
All-time low
3,311 Thousand persons
in 2025
Years of data
28
1998–2026
Self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data in Germany, 1998–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2026, self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data in Germany stood at 3,351 Thousand persons.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data in Germany peaked at 4,228 Thousand persons in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3,311 Thousand persons, in 2025.
That places Germany 6th out of 47 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data (occupation) in Germany, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 3,520 Thousand persons | — |
| 1999 | 3,571 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 3,634 Thousand persons | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 3,608 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 3,597 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 3,702 Thousand persons | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 3,850 Thousand persons | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 4,118 Thousand persons | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 4,198 Thousand persons | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 4,195 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 4,072 Thousand persons | -2.9% |
| 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 | 3,351 Thousand persons | +1.2% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 3,351 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 434.7 Thousand persons, 7.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Germany's 3,351 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 472.3 Thousand persons, 7.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,545 Thousand persons | 3,520 Thousand persons | 3,571 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2000s | 3,919 Thousand persons | 3,597 Thousand persons | 4,218 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,068 Thousand persons | 3,892 Thousand persons | 4,228 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,450 Thousand persons | 3,311 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 occupation - quarterly data in Germany?
- Self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data in Germany was 3,351 Thousand persons in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 4,228 Thousand persons in 2011.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,311 Thousand persons in 2025.
- How does Germany rank for self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data?
- Germany ranks 6th out of 47 countries with data for 2026.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data 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 Eurostat, published as part of Self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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