Economy, jobs and prices in Göttingen (Lower Saxony, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 38,600 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 101% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 179th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Göttingen?
The local economy produced €14.2 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Göttingen?
About 182,710 people worked in Göttingen in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Göttingen?
In 2023, Göttingen recorded an unemployment rate of 6.5%, compared with 5.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 96th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 5.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Göttingen?
In 2023, Göttingen recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 5.6%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 123rd highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 4.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Göttingen?
In 2023, Göttingen recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 40.6%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 48th highest of 400 districts. That is down from 42.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Göttingen?
At €3,690 in 2023, the median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Göttingen ranked 150th highest of 400 German districts (district median €3,604). In 2019 the figure was €3,326.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Göttingen?
At 95.3% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Göttingen ranked 64th highest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). In 2019 the figure was 90.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Göttingen?
The purchasing power per resident in Göttingen was €28,815 in 2023, 151st lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. In 2019 the figure was €22,923.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Göttingen?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in Göttingen was 18.1% in 2023, 154th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. It was 18.9% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Göttingen?
At +6.3 in 2023, the commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Göttingen ranked 95th highest of 400 German districts (district median -11.7). It was also +6.3 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Göttingen?
At 3.2 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Göttingen ranked 133rd lowest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). In 2019 the figure was 4.3.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Göttingen?
The largest part of the economy of Göttingen in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 32.2% of gross value added, followed by industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (24.0%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Göttingen?
Factories, mines and energy produced 24.0% of the value added in Göttingen in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Göttingen growing?
Gross value added rose from €9.6 billion in 2015 to €13.0 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 35% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Göttingen?
Of the 182,710 jobs located in Göttingen in 2023, 43% in public services, education, health and other services, 16% in industry and 1.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Göttingen?
The number of people working in Göttingen rose by 5.2% between 2015 and 2023, to 182,710.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Göttingen compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Göttingen ranks 96 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 93 | Elbe-Elster | 6.6% |
| 94 | Zweibrücken, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.5% |
| 95 | Birkenfeld | 6.5% |
| 96 | Göttingen | 6.5% |
| 97 | Schweinfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.5% |
| 98 | Mettmann | 6.4% |
| 99 | Sömmerda | 6.4% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Göttingen ranks 150 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 147 | Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis | €3,703 |
| 148 | Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis | €3,701 |
| 149 | Hagen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,697 |
| 150 | Göttingen | €3,690 |
| 151 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,689 |
| 152 | Fürth, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,684 |
| 153 | Nürnberger Land | €3,683 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Göttingen ranks 250 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 247 | Mönchengladbach, Kreisfreie Stadt | €28,849 |
| 248 | Heinsberg | €28,829 |
| 249 | Uelzen | €28,822 |
| 250 | Göttingen | €28,815 |
| 251 | Fulda | €28,805 |
| 252 | Passau, Landkreis | €28,738 |
| 253 | Saarlouis | €28,700 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Göttingen ranks 354 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 351 | Schleswig-Flensburg | 60.3% |
| 352 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.2% |
| 353 | Heinsberg | 60.2% |
| 354 | Göttingen | 60.1% |
| 355 | Gießen, Landkreis | 60.1% |
| 356 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | 60.1% |
| 357 | Düren | 60.0% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Göttingen ranks 225 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 222 | Speyer, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.3% |
| 223 | Oberhavel | 24.2% |
| 224 | Steinburg | 24.0% |
| 225 | Göttingen | 24.0% |
| 226 | Hildesheim | 23.8% |
| 227 | Merzig-Wadern | 23.6% |
| 228 | Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen | 23.5% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Göttingen ranks 198 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 195 | Berchtesgadener Land | 22.2% |
| 196 | Peine | 22.2% |
| 197 | Paderborn | 22.2% |
| 198 | Göttingen | 22.1% |
| 199 | Bad Kreuznach | 22.1% |
| 200 | Krefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 22.1% |
| 201 | Goslar | 22.1% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Göttingen ranks 54 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Cochem-Zell | 32.4% |
| 52 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.3% |
| 53 | Rostock, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.2% |
| 54 | Göttingen | 32.2% |
| 55 | Chemnitz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
| 56 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
| 57 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
More on Göttingen: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Lower Saxony · 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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