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Germany Labor Force Participation

Labor force participation rate  SL.TLF.CACT.ZS

60.57% −0.35pp (-0.6%)
Year 2025 Rank #97 Global Peak 61.31% (2019) Source World Bank

Germany Labor Force Participation (1990–2025)

Overview

Germany's labor force participation stood at 60.57% in 2025, a decline of +0.35pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 60.89% by 2026. Germany ranked 97th globally.

Data & projection

Year Labor Force Participation YoY change Rank
2028* trend 60.97% - -
2027* trend 60.93% - -
2026* trend 60.89% - -
2025 60.57% −0.35pp #97
2024 60.92% −0.13pp #96
2023 61.05% +0.21pp #99
2022 60.84% +0.44pp #100
2021 60.40% −0.08pp #94
2020 60.48% −0.83pp #90
2019 61.31% +0.45pp #92
2018 60.86% +0.20pp #97
2017 60.66% +0.25pp #93
2016 60.41% +0.19pp #101
2015 60.22% −0.16pp #103
2014 60.38% +0.10pp #99
2013 60.28% +0.32pp #102
2012 59.96% +0.10pp #105
2011 59.85% +0.54pp #104
Show all years (1990-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +10.2% GDP growth 3.9% C/A balance 6.9%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Germany matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Germany's labor force participation?

Germany's labor force participation was 60.57% in 2025. Ranked 97th globally. This represents a 0.6% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest labor force participation in Germany?

Germany's labor force participation peaked at 61.31% in 2019.

What was the lowest labor force participation in Germany?

The lowest labor force participation in Germany was 57.46% in 2004.

How does Germany rank in labor force participation?

Germany ranks 97th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for labor force participation?

The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected labor force participation of Germany in 2026?

Germany's labor force participation is projected to reach 60.89% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the labor force participation of Germany in 2025?

The labor force participation of Germany in 2025 was 60.57%. This ranks 97th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Germany Labor Force Participation. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/germany/labor-force-participation
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_germany_labor-force-participation, title = {Germany Labor Force Participation}, url = {https://historysaid.com/germany/labor-force-participation}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }