Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Germany
Germany: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 3.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany is 3.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.1% on the previous year and down 19.5% 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, 3.1%, in 2023.
Germany ranks 125th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.3% | — |
| 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 | 3.6% | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -12.7% |
| 2023 | 3.1% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 3.4% | +10.7% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | +9.1% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 3.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 74% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Germany's 3.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 67% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.2% | 5.3% | 9.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 7.5% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 3.2% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 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 unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Germany was 3.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), 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 3.1% in 2023.
- How does Germany rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Germany ranks 125th 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 19.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO 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.