Economy, jobs and prices in Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt (Brandenburg, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 46,300 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 121% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 94th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €9.6 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 118,200 people worked in Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Potsdam?
In 2023, the city of Potsdam recorded an unemployment rate of 5.4%, compared with 5.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 168th highest of 400 districts. It was also 5.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Potsdam?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Potsdam was 4.1% in 2023, 171st lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. It was 5.4% 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 Potsdam?
The share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in the city of Potsdam was 32.5% in 2023, 182nd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 31.8%. It was 30.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Potsdam?
At €3,729 in 2023, the median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in the city of Potsdam ranked 136th highest of 400 German districts (district median €3,604). It was €3,204 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Potsdam?
In 2023, the city of Potsdam recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 101.7%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 24th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 103.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Potsdam?
In 2023, the city of Potsdam recorded a purchasing power per resident of €29,278, compared with €29,371 in the median German district, which ranks it 189th lowest of 400 districts. That is up from €23,188 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Potsdam?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Potsdam was 13.3% in 2023, 65th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. In 2019 the figure was 12.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Potsdam?
In 2023, the city of Potsdam recorded a commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) of +13.1, compared with -11.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 77th highest of 400 districts. It was +16.3 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Potsdam?
The number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in the city of Potsdam was 4.3 in 2023, 163rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 3.9. It was 4.2 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 44.7% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (30.1%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Factories, mines and energy produced 5.0% of the value added in Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €5.9 billion in 2015 to €8.7 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 47% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 118,200 jobs located in Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 49% in public services, education, health and other services, 4% in industry and 0.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt rose by 8.1% between 2015 and 2023, to 118,200.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 170 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 167 | Ilm-Kreis | 5.4% |
| 168 | Braunschweig, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.4% |
| 169 | Darmstadt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.4% |
| 170 | Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.4% |
| 171 | Heinsberg | 5.4% |
| 172 | Warendorf | 5.4% |
| 173 | Paderborn | 5.4% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 136 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 133 | Oldenburg (Oldenburg), Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,735 |
| 134 | Märkischer Kreis | €3,735 |
| 135 | Neumarkt i. d. OPf. | €3,734 |
| 136 | Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,729 |
| 137 | Calw | €3,729 |
| 138 | Zweibrücken, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,726 |
| 139 | Rhein-Erft-Kreis | €3,725 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 212 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 209 | Lahn-Dill-Kreis | €29,300 |
| 210 | Friesland (DE) | €29,296 |
| 211 | Südwestpfalz | €29,292 |
| 212 | Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt | €29,278 |
| 213 | Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen | €29,255 |
| 214 | Osnabrück, Landkreis | €29,254 |
| 215 | Peine | €29,246 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 291 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 288 | Kusel | 63.4% |
| 289 | Cuxhaven | 63.4% |
| 290 | Mayen-Koblenz | 63.4% |
| 291 | Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt | 63.3% |
| 292 | Kaiserslautern, Landkreis | 63.3% |
| 293 | Lahn-Dill-Kreis | 63.3% |
| 294 | Magdeburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 63.2% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 399 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 394 | Offenbach am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.3% |
| 395 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.1% |
| 396 | Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.6% |
| 397 | Main-Taunus-Kreis | 7.5% |
| 398 | Frankfurt (Oder), Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.3% |
| 399 | Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.0% |
| 400 | Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt | 3.7% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 30 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Landau in der Pfalz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 30.6% |
| 28 | Würzburg, Landkreis | 30.5% |
| 29 | Offenbach, Landkreis | 30.5% |
| 30 | Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt | 30.1% |
| 31 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 30.0% |
| 32 | Kusel | 29.9% |
| 33 | Schwabach, Kreisfreie Stadt | 29.4% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 4 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 Potsdam, 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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