Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Germany
Germany: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 3.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Germany, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Germany is 3.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.0% on the previous year and down 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Germany peaked at 11.2% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2023.
That places Germany 129th out of 185 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | 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% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 3.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 77% of the median. (77 countries reporting)
- Germany's 3.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 68% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
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
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Germany?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Germany was 3.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 11.2% in 2005.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2023.
- How does Germany rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Germany ranks 129th out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates 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, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.