Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany
Germany: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany stood at 3.8%.
That represents a change of up 13.0% on the previous year and down 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany peaked at 11.2% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2023.
Germany ranks 131st of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 6.4% | — |
| 1984 | 6.7% | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 6.6% | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 6.8% | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 6.3% | -7.3% |
| 1989 | 5.7% | -9.7% |
| 1990 | 4.9% | -14.3% |
| 1991 | 5.3% | +8.7% |
| 1992 | 6.3% | +18.9% |
| 1993 | 7.7% | +21.4% |
| 1994 | 8.7% | +13.7% |
| 1995 | 8.2% | -6.5% |
| 1996 | 8.8% | +8.1% |
| 1997 | 9.9% | +11.8% |
| 1998 | 9.8% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 8.9% | -9.5% |
| 2000 | 7.9% | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 7.8% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 8.5% | +9.1% |
| 2003 | 9.8% | +15.3% |
| 2004 | 10.7% | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 11.2% | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | -8.2% |
| 2007 | 8.7% | -15.0% |
| 2008 | 7.5% | -14.0% |
| 2009 | 7.9% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | -10.6% |
| 2011 | 6.0% | -15.3% |
| 2012 | 5.4% | -10.0% |
| 2013 | 5.3% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 4.6% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | -11.0% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | -7.9% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | -10.5% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +22.7% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | -8.8% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -12.5% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -3.9% |
| 2024 | 3.4% | +13.0% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | +13.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.5% | 5.7% | 6.9% | 7 |
| 1990s | 7.8% | 4.9% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 7.5% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 3.2% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 3.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 128 Malaysia 3.9% compare
- 128 Netherlands 3.9% compare
- 128 Slovenia 3.9% compare
- 132 Hong Kong, China 3.7% compare
- 133 Bangladesh 3.6% compare
- 134 Bulgaria 3.5% compare
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 unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany was 3.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 11.2% in 2005.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2023.
- How does Germany rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Germany ranks 131st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.