Self-employed persons by occupation in Germany
Germany: Self-employed persons by occupation was 3,393 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3,393 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
6th
of 45 countries
All-time high
4,268 Thousand persons
in 2012
All-time low
2,324 Thousand persons
in 1983
Years of data
43
1983–2025
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 6th of 45 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation in Germany, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 2,324 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 2,399 Thousand persons | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 2,383 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 2,390 Thousand persons | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 2,388 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 2,409 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 2,477 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 2,566 Thousand persons | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 3,015 Thousand persons | +17.5% |
| 1992 | 3,114 Thousand persons | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 3,203 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 3,300 Thousand persons | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 3,323 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 3,403 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 3,484 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 3,520 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 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 | 4,048 Thousand persons | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 4,102 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 4,130 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 4,113 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 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% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 3,393 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95 Thousand persons, 8.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Germany's 3,393 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 478.5 Thousand persons, 7.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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 6th out of 45 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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