Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Germany

Germany: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 63.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
63.6%
Change on year
down 10.2%
World rank
14th
of 43 countries
All-time high
94.3%
in 2003
All-time low
63.6%
in 2020
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Germany, 1998–2020

0204060801001998200920201998: 92.2 Percentage1999: 90.1 Percentage2000: 90.1 Percentage2001: 92 Percentage2002: 93 Percentage2003: 94.3 Percentage2004: 92.2 Percentage2005: 91.4 Percentage2006: 91.2 Percentage2007: 90.5 Percentage2008: 88.8 Percentage2009: 84 Percentage2010: 82.2 Percentage2011: 82.3 Percentage2012: 81.1 Percentage2013: 79.4 Percentage2014: 79.3 Percentage2015: 77.3 Percentage2016: 75.6 Percentage2017: 74.5 Percentage2018: 72.9 Percentage2019: 70.8 Percentage2020: 63.6 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Germany is 63.6%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of down 10.2% on the previous year and down 22.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Germany peaked at 94.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 63.6%, in 2020.

That places Germany 14th out of 43 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Germany, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment in Germany, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 92.2%
1999 90.1% -2.3%
2000 90.1% +0.0%
2001 92.0% +2.1%
2002 93.0% +1.1%
2003 94.3% +1.4%
2004 92.2% -2.2%
2005 91.4% -0.9%
2006 91.2% -0.2%
2007 90.5% -0.8%
2008 88.8% -1.9%
2009 84.0% -5.4%
2010 82.2% -2.1%
2011 82.3% +0.1%
2012 81.1% -1.5%
2013 79.4% -2.1%
2014 79.3% -0.1%
2015 77.3% -2.5%
2016 75.6% -2.2%
2017 74.5% -1.5%
2018 72.9% -2.1%
2019 70.8% -2.9%
2020 63.6% -10.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 91.2% 90.1% 92.2% 2
2000s 90.8% 84.0% 94.3% 10
2010s 77.5% 70.8% 82.3% 10
2020s 63.6% 63.6% 63.6% 1

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 12 Estonia 67.2% compare
  2. 12 Estonia 67.2% compare
  3. 15 Luxembourg 62.5% compare
  4. 15 Serbia 62.5% compare
  5. 17 Hungary 61.1% compare

See the full ranking of 43 places →

More work & labour data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Germany?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Germany was 63.6% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Germany?
The highest recorded value was 94.3% in 2003.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 63.6% in 2020.
How does Germany rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Germany ranks 14th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in Germany?
Over the last ten years it is down 22.6%. 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 Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Germany. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment-2/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
43 places, 931 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed