Self-employed persons by occupation in Germany
Germany: Self-employed persons by occupation was 3,393 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Self-employed persons by occupation in Germany, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for self-employed persons by occupation in Germany is 3,393 Thousand persons, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by occupation in Germany peaked at 4,268 Thousand persons in 2012 and was at its lowest, 2,324 Thousand persons, in 1983.
Germany ranks 5th of 36 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,396 Thousand persons | 2,324 Thousand persons | 2,477 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 3,250 Thousand persons | 2,566 Thousand persons | 3,571 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,896 Thousand persons | 3,597 Thousand persons | 4,180 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 60.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 66.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 83.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 55.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 80.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 76.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is self-employed persons by occupation in Germany?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in Germany was 3,393 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 4,268 Thousand persons in 2012.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,324 Thousand persons in 1983.
- How does Germany rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- Germany ranks 5th out of 36 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Self-employed persons by occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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