Economy, jobs and prices in Heidekreis (Lower Saxony, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 37,800 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 98% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 196th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Heidekreis?
The local economy produced €6.1 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Heidekreis?
About 75,160 people worked in Heidekreis in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Heidekreis?
The unemployment rate in Heidekreis was 6.3% in 2023, 103rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5.0%. It was 5.3% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Heidekreis?
At 6.6% in 2023, the unemployment rate among under-25s in Heidekreis ranked 83rd highest of 400 German districts (district median 4.4%). That is up from 4.7% 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 Heidekreis?
At 47.5% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Heidekreis ranked 7th highest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). That is up from 35.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Heidekreis?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Heidekreis was €3,393 in 2023, 111th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. That is up from €3,061 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Heidekreis?
At 88.5% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Heidekreis ranked 198th highest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). It was 84.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Heidekreis?
At €28,450 in 2023, the purchasing power per resident in Heidekreis ranked 132nd lowest of 400 German districts (district median €29,371). It was €17,758 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Heidekreis?
In 2023, Heidekreis recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 22.0%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 109th highest of 400 districts. It was 22.3% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Heidekreis?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Heidekreis was -14.7 in 2023, 179th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. That is down from -13.4 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Heidekreis?
The number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Heidekreis was 4.9 in 2023, 105th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 3.9. It was 4.8 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Heidekreis?
The largest part of the economy of Heidekreis in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 31.7% of gross value added, followed by trade, transport, hospitality and communications (24.6%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Heidekreis?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 16.4% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Heidekreis growing?
Gross value added rose from €3.9 billion in 2015 to €5.5 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 41% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Heidekreis?
Of the 75,160 jobs located in Heidekreis in 2023, 40% in public services, education, health and other services, 14% in industry and 3.8% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Heidekreis?
The number of people working in Heidekreis rose by 6.2% between 2015 and 2023, to 75,160.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Heidekreis compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Heidekreis ranks 103 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Saalekreis | 6.4% |
| 101 | Oldenburg (Oldenburg), Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.3% |
| 102 | Coburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.3% |
| 103 | Heidekreis | 6.3% |
| 104 | Wittmund | 6.2% |
| 105 | Trier, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.2% |
| 106 | Oder-Spree | 6.2% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Heidekreis ranks 290 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 287 | Regen | €3,394 |
| 288 | Schaumburg | €3,394 |
| 289 | Hersfeld-Rotenburg | €3,393 |
| 290 | Heidekreis | €3,393 |
| 291 | Friesland (DE) | €3,391 |
| 292 | Höxter | €3,385 |
| 293 | Birkenfeld | €3,384 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Heidekreis ranks 269 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 266 | Bayreuth, Kreisfreie Stadt | €28,482 |
| 267 | Schwalm-Eder-Kreis | €28,459 |
| 268 | Schwandorf | €28,456 |
| 269 | Heidekreis | €28,450 |
| 270 | Kusel | €28,428 |
| 271 | Amberg-Sulzbach | €28,428 |
| 272 | Kronach | €28,417 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Heidekreis ranks 249 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 246 | Brandenburg an der Havel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 65.0% |
| 247 | Wesermarsch | 64.9% |
| 248 | Hamburg | 64.9% |
| 249 | Heidekreis | 64.9% |
| 250 | Bergstraße | 64.9% |
| 251 | Suhl, Kreisfreie Stadt | 64.8% |
| 252 | Halle (Saale), Kreisfreie Stadt | 64.8% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Heidekreis ranks 331 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 328 | Mönchengladbach, Kreisfreie Stadt | 16.9% |
| 329 | Nürnberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 16.8% |
| 330 | Baden-Baden, Stadtkreis | 16.4% |
| 331 | Heidekreis | 16.4% |
| 332 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 16.4% |
| 333 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 16.4% |
| 334 | Berchtesgadener Land | 16.2% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Heidekreis ranks 355 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 352 | Rottweil | 17.3% |
| 353 | Harz | 17.2% |
| 354 | Bodenseekreis | 17.1% |
| 355 | Heidekreis | 17.1% |
| 356 | Zwickau | 16.9% |
| 357 | Leipzig | 16.9% |
| 358 | Hildburghausen | 16.9% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Heidekreis ranks 59 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
| 57 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
| 58 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 31.7% |
| 59 | Heidekreis | 31.7% |
| 60 | Celle | 31.6% |
| 61 | Mecklenburgische Seenplatte | 31.5% |
| 62 | Straubing, Kreisfreie Stadt | 31.4% |
More on Heidekreis: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.