Economy, jobs and prices in Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt (Brandenburg, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 41,800 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 109% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 135th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €4.4 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 61,430 people worked in Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Cottbus?
The unemployment rate in the city of Cottbus was 7.8% in 2023, 57th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5.0%. That is up from 7.6% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Cottbus?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Cottbus was 6.5% in 2023, 85th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. That is up from 5.6% 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 Cottbus?
In 2023, the city of Cottbus recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 30.0%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 172nd lowest of 400 districts. It was 32.9% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Cottbus?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in the city of Cottbus was €3,370 in 2023, 104th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. In 2019 the figure was €2,911.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Cottbus?
In 2023, the city of Cottbus recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 108.6%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 2nd highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 111.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Cottbus?
At €26,711 in 2023, the purchasing power per resident in the city of Cottbus ranked 24th lowest of 400 German districts (district median €29,371). In 2019 the figure was €21,098.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Cottbus?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Cottbus was 12.1% in 2023, 44th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. It was 13.7% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Cottbus?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in the city of Cottbus was +21.3 in 2023, 59th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. In 2019 the figure was +19.2.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Cottbus?
In 2023, the city of Cottbus had 2.7 company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses, compared with 3.9 in the median German district, which ranks it 75th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 3.0.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 45.0% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (22.7%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 10.8% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €3.0 billion in 2015 to €4.0 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 35% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 61,430 jobs located in Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 47% in public services, education, health and other services, 7% in industry and 0.2% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt fell by 0.7% between 2015 and 2023, to 61,430.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 57 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Solingen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.8% |
| 55 | Prignitz | 7.8% |
| 56 | Lüchow-Dannenberg | 7.8% |
| 57 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.8% |
| 58 | Bottrop, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.7% |
| 59 | Remscheid, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.6% |
| 60 | Kiel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.6% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 297 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 294 | Trier-Saarburg | €3,379 |
| 295 | Uelzen | €3,372 |
| 296 | Wunsiedel i. Fichtelgebirge | €3,370 |
| 297 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,370 |
| 298 | Weiden i. d. Opf, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,368 |
| 299 | Plön | €3,367 |
| 300 | Garmisch-Partenkirchen | €3,366 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 377 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 374 | Weimarer Land | €26,789 |
| 375 | Nordhausen | €26,762 |
| 376 | Elbe-Elster | €26,734 |
| 377 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | €26,711 |
| 378 | Pirmasens, Kreisfreie Stadt | €26,678 |
| 379 | Mecklenburgische Seenplatte | €26,649 |
| 380 | Rostock, Kreisfreie Stadt | €26,606 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 191 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 188 | Ilm-Kreis | 66.4% |
| 189 | Celle | 66.4% |
| 190 | Göppingen | 66.3% |
| 191 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | 66.3% |
| 192 | Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen | 66.3% |
| 193 | Oberhavel | 66.3% |
| 194 | Borken | 66.3% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 382 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 379 | Schwerin, Kreisfreie Stadt | 11.7% |
| 380 | Vorpommern-Rügen | 11.5% |
| 381 | Rosenheim, Kreisfreie Stadt | 11.2% |
| 382 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | 10.8% |
| 383 | Leer | 10.8% |
| 384 | Würzburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 10.7% |
| 385 | Oldenburg (Oldenburg), Kreisfreie Stadt | 10.3% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 178 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 175 | Birkenfeld | 22.8% |
| 176 | Coesfeld | 22.8% |
| 177 | Euskirchen | 22.8% |
| 178 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | 22.7% |
| 179 | Märkisch-Oderland | 22.7% |
| 180 | Reutlingen | 22.7% |
| 181 | Donnersbergkreis | 22.7% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 3 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfurt (Oder), Kreisfreie Stadt | 48.4% |
| 2 | Weimar, Kreisfreie Stadt | 45.8% |
| 3 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | 45.0% |
| 4 | Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt | 44.7% |
| 5 | Schwerin, Kreisfreie Stadt | 43.8% |
| 6 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 42.9% |
| 7 | Werra-Meißner-Kreis | 42.8% |
More on Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Brandenburg · 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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