Labor force, total in Germany
Germany: Labor force, total was 43.55 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Germany, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Germany recorded 43.55 million for labor force, total in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Germany peaked at 43.98 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 38.77 million, in 1990.
That places Germany 15th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 38.77 million | — |
| 1991 | 39.93 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 39.86 million | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 39.75 million | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 39.99 million | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 39.85 million | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 39.84 million | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 40.09 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 40.12 million | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 40.34 million | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 40.21 million | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 40.30 million | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 40.39 million | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 40.57 million | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 40.42 million | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 41.13 million | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 41.69 million | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 41.80 million | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 41.80 million | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 41.82 million | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 41.86 million | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 41.52 million | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 41.76 million | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 42.18 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 42.45 million | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 42.69 million | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 43.12 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 43.39 million | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 43.61 million | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 43.98 million | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 43.37 million | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 43.28 million | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 43.56 million | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 43.77 million | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 43.80 million | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 43.55 million | -0.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 43.55 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.08 million, 14.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Germany's 43.55 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.31 million, 13.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.85 million | 38.77 million | 40.34 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.01 million | 40.21 million | 41.82 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.66 million | 41.52 million | 43.98 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.56 million | 43.28 million | 43.80 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More education data for Germany
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 618,670 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 15,242 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.35 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.27 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.97 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.31 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0396 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Germany?
- Labor force, total in Germany was 43.55 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 43.98 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.77 million in 1990.
- How does Germany rank for labor force, total?
- Germany ranks 15th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.