Economy, jobs and prices in Heidelberg, Stadtkreis (Baden-Württemberg, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 63,100 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 164% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 41st highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Heidelberg, Stadtkreis?
The local economy produced €11.0 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Heidelberg, Stadtkreis?
About 129,740 people worked in Heidelberg, Stadtkreis in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Heidelberg?
At 4.8% in 2023, the unemployment rate in the city of Heidelberg ranked 186th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). That is up from 4.0% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Heidelberg?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Heidelberg was 2.1% in 2023, 25th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. That is up from 2.0% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Heidelberg?
At 32.3% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in the city of Heidelberg ranked 187th highest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). In 2019 the figure was 29.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Heidelberg?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in the city of Heidelberg was €4,365 in 2023, 25th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. In 2019 the figure was €3,897.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Heidelberg?
In 2023, the city of Heidelberg recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 84.0%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 84th lowest of 400 districts. It was 82.8% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Heidelberg?
In 2023, the city of Heidelberg recorded a purchasing power per resident of €31,392, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 65th highest of 400 districts. That is up from €25,246 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Heidelberg?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Heidelberg was 17.3% in 2023, 133rd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. In 2019 the figure was 17.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Heidelberg?
At +41.7 in 2023, the commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in the city of Heidelberg ranked 13th highest of 400 German districts (district median -11.7). It was +40.8 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Heidelberg?
The number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in the city of Heidelberg was 4.0 in 2023, 190th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 3.9. It was 2.5 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Heidelberg, Stadtkreis?
The largest part of the economy of Heidelberg, Stadtkreis in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 35.1% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (27.9%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Heidelberg, Stadtkreis?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 13.0% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Heidelberg, Stadtkreis growing?
Gross value added rose from €7.5 billion in 2015 to €10.0 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 34% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Heidelberg, Stadtkreis?
Of the 129,740 jobs located in Heidelberg, Stadtkreis in 2023, 48% in public services, education, health and other services, 8% in industry and 0.2% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Heidelberg, Stadtkreis?
The number of people working in Heidelberg, Stadtkreis rose by 8.3% between 2015 and 2023, to 129,740.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Heidelberg, Stadtkreis compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Heidelberg, Stadtkreis ranks 216 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 213 | Amberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.8% |
| 214 | Bayreuth, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.8% |
| 215 | Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis | 4.8% |
| 216 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | 4.8% |
| 217 | Limburg-Weilburg | 4.7% |
| 218 | Friesland (DE) | 4.7% |
| 219 | Darmstadt-Dieburg | 4.7% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Heidelberg, Stadtkreis ranks 25 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Mannheim, Stadtkreis | €4,413 |
| 23 | Leverkusen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,401 |
| 24 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | €4,384 |
| 25 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | €4,365 |
| 26 | Esslingen | €4,340 |
| 27 | Biberach | €4,336 |
| 28 | Ludwigsburg | €4,306 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Heidelberg, Stadtkreis ranks 65 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | Coesfeld | €31,435 |
| 63 | Gifhorn | €31,425 |
| 64 | Freising | €31,411 |
| 65 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | €31,392 |
| 66 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | €31,380 |
| 67 | Landshut, Kreisfreie Stadt | €31,369 |
| 68 | Darmstadt-Dieburg | €31,367 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Heidelberg, Stadtkreis ranks 395 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: SV Beschäftigte am Wohnort je 100 Einwohner im erwerbsfähigen Alter in %
| Rank | Area | Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) |
|---|---|---|
| 392 | Delmenhorst, Kreisfreie Stadt | 54.3% |
| 393 | Waldshut | 53.8% |
| 394 | Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 53.3% |
| 395 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | 52.2% |
| 396 | Lörrach | 52.1% |
| 397 | Trier, Kreisfreie Stadt | 51.1% |
| 398 | Merzig-Wadern | 49.4% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Heidelberg, Stadtkreis ranks 370 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 367 | Offenbach, Landkreis | 13.8% |
| 368 | Hof, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.6% |
| 369 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.5% |
| 370 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | 13.0% |
| 371 | Erding | 12.3% |
| 372 | Potsdam-Mittelmark | 12.3% |
| 373 | Barnim | 12.2% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Heidelberg, Stadtkreis ranks 52 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Limburg-Weilburg | 28.1% |
| 50 | Fürstenfeldbruck | 28.1% |
| 51 | Erding | 28.0% |
| 52 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | 27.9% |
| 53 | Miesbach | 27.8% |
| 54 | Mettmann | 27.7% |
| 55 | Mönchengladbach, Kreisfreie Stadt | 27.6% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Heidelberg, Stadtkreis ranks 29 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Rosenheim, Kreisfreie Stadt | 36.2% |
| 27 | Barnim | 35.5% |
| 28 | Kaufbeuren, Kreisfreie Stadt | 35.3% |
| 29 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | 35.1% |
| 30 | Vorpommern-Rügen | 34.9% |
| 31 | Landshut, Kreisfreie Stadt | 34.8% |
| 32 | Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Kreisfreie Stadt | 34.7% |
More on Heidelberg, Stadtkreis: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Baden-Württemberg · Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment, thousand people (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 664e4e3a6dc0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- 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…)
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