Economy, jobs and prices in Wuppertal, Germany: official figures
Among 22 large German cities, Wuppertal had the 5th highest unemployment rate in 2023, at 9.5% (median of all 400 districts: 5.0%). In 2019 it was 8.1%.
How high is youth unemployment in Wuppertal?
Wuppertal's unemployment rate among under-25s was 9.1% in 2023, 3rd highest of 22 large German cities and 24th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 8.5%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Wuppertal?
Among 22 large German cities, Wuppertal had the 11th highest share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in 2023, at 41.1% (median of all 400 districts: 31.8%). In 2019 it was 35.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Wuppertal?
Wuppertal's median monthly gross wage of full-time employees was €3,851 in 2023, 4th lowest of 22 large German cities and 101st highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was €3,559.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Wuppertal?
Among 22 large German cities, Wuppertal had the 6th highest median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in 2023, at 92.3% (median of all 400 districts: 88.5%). In 2019 it was 88.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Wuppertal?
Wuppertal's purchasing power per resident was €29,038 in 2023, 11th lowest of 22 large German cities and 169th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was €23,336.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Wuppertal?
Wuppertal's share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' was 19.5% in 2023, 3rd highest of 22 large German cities and 194th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 20.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Wuppertal?
Among 22 large German cities, Wuppertal had the 3rd lowest commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in 2023, at -2.3 (median of all 400 districts: -11.7). In 2019 it was -1.0.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Wuppertal?
Among 22 large German cities, Wuppertal had the 10th highest number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in 2023, at 6.8 (median of all 400 districts: 3.9). In 2019 it was 8.9.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Wuppertal?
The unemployment rate in Wuppertal was 7.7% in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Wuppertal?
170,000 jobs were based in Wuppertal in 2024; the biggest employers were trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (21% of jobs) and industry and energy (21%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people commute to Wuppertal?
49,996 people commuted into Wuppertal for work in 2018 and 50,035 commuted out.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Wuppertal?
Tourist accommodation in Wuppertal recorded 341,079 nights in 2020, 8% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow do people get to work in Wuppertal?
In 2016, 23% of journeys to work in Wuppertal were by public transport, 63% by car, 2% by bicycle and 11% on foot.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Wuppertal?
There were 437 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Wuppertal compares with other cities in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) – large cities (2023)
Wuppertal ranks 5 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Dortmund | 11.5% |
| 3 | Essen | 10.6% |
| 4 | Bremen | 10.0% |
| 5 | Wuppertal | 9.5% |
| 6 | Berlin | 9.1% |
| 7 | Köln | 8.7% |
| 8 | Bochum | 8.6% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) – large cities (2023)
Wuppertal ranks 19 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Berlin | €3,982 |
| 17 | Bielefeld | €3,885 |
| 18 | Dortmund | €3,858 |
| 19 | Wuppertal | €3,851 |
| 20 | Bochum | €3,793 |
| 21 | Dresden | €3,689 |
| 22 | Leipzig | €2,994 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) – large cities (2023)
Wuppertal ranks 12 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Karlsruhe | €30,439 |
| 10 | Essen | €29,981 |
| 11 | Nürnberg | €29,662 |
| 12 | Wuppertal | €29,038 |
| 13 | Augsburg | €29,004 |
| 14 | Bielefeld | €28,878 |
| 15 | Bochum | €28,640 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) – large cities (2023)
Wuppertal ranks 19 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: SV Beschäftigte am Wohnort je 100 Einwohner im erwerbsfähigen Alter in %; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Karlsruhe | 60.1% |
| 17 | Bonn | 59.3% |
| 18 | Essen | 59.0% |
| 19 | Wuppertal | 58.2% |
| 20 | Dortmund | 58.0% |
| 21 | Bremen | 57.6% |
| 22 | Duisburg | 56.2% |
Journeys to work by public transport (2016)
Wuppertal ranks 24 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Journeys to work by public transport |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Karlsruhe | 23.6% |
| 22 | Bremen | 23.3% |
| 23 | Wiesbaden | 23.2% |
| 24 | Wuppertal | 23.1% |
| 25 | Mannheim | 22.9% |
| 26 | Dortmund | 22.5% |
| 27 | Ludwigshafen am Rhein | 22.4% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2023)
Wuppertal ranks 35 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Chemnitz | 438 |
| 33 | Braunschweig | 437 |
| 34 | Osnabrück | 437 |
| 35 | Wuppertal | 437 |
| 36 | Duisburg | 432 |
| 37 | Pforzheim | 432 |
| 38 | Gelsenkirchen | 430 |
Tourist nights (2020)
Wuppertal ranks 36 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Würzburg | 448,737 |
| 34 | Magdeburg | 430,139 |
| 35 | Augsburg | 419,089 |
| 36 | Wuppertal | 341,079 |
| 37 | Braunschweig | 336,814 |
| 38 | Bielefeld | 318,599 |
| 39 | Göttingen | 312,880 |
More on Wuppertal: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung: INKAR – Indikatoren und Karten zur Raum- und Stadtentwicklung: 43 district (Kreise) indicators, 2012-2024 (table service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c743f54caf6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
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