Economy, jobs and prices in Leer (Lower Saxony, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 31,000 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 81% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 317th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Leer?
The local economy produced €5.9 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Leer?
About 72,970 people worked in Leer in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Leer?
At 5.8% in 2023, the unemployment rate in Leer ranked 134th highest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). It was 5.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Leer?
In 2023, Leer recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 4.8%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 179th highest of 400 districts. It was 4.6% 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 Leer?
The share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Leer was 36.8% in 2023, 104th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 31.8%. In 2019 the figure was 32.5%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Leer?
In 2023, Leer recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €3,252, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 76th lowest of 400 districts. It was €2,914 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Leer?
At 88.8% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Leer ranked 187th highest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). It was 85.7% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Leer?
The purchasing power per resident in Leer was €27,151 in 2023, 48th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. That is up from €21,401 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Leer?
In 2023, Leer recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 23.2%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 63rd highest of 400 districts. It was 25.0% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Leer?
At -31.6 in 2023, the commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Leer ranked 71st lowest of 400 German districts (district median -11.7). In 2019 the figure was -29.9.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Leer?
The number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Leer was 1.8 in 2023, 18th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 3.9. It was 6.0 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Leer?
The largest part of the economy of Leer in 2023 was trade, transport, hospitality and communications, at 28.8% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (24.0%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Leer?
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 Leer growing?
Gross value added rose from €3.8 billion in 2015 to €5.4 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 42% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Leer?
Of the 72,970 jobs located in Leer in 2023, 35% in public services, education, health and other services, 10% in industry and 2.2% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Leer?
The number of people working in Leer rose by 2.3% between 2015 and 2023, to 72,970.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Leer compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Leer ranks 134 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 131 | Landkreis Rostock | 5.8% |
| 132 | Lüneburg, Landkreis | 5.8% |
| 133 | Dithmarschen | 5.8% |
| 134 | Leer | 5.8% |
| 135 | Vogtlandkreis | 5.8% |
| 136 | Northeim | 5.7% |
| 137 | Schaumburg | 5.7% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Leer ranks 325 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 322 | Lüchow-Dannenberg | €3,278 |
| 323 | Nordfriesland | €3,273 |
| 324 | Hof, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,271 |
| 325 | Leer | €3,252 |
| 326 | Lichtenfels | €3,249 |
| 327 | Neustadt a. d. Aisch-Bad Windsheim | €3,248 |
| 328 | Frankfurt (Oder), Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,235 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Leer ranks 353 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 350 | Wittenberg | €27,157 |
| 351 | Ludwigslust-Parchim | €27,157 |
| 352 | Vogtlandkreis | €27,156 |
| 353 | Leer | €27,151 |
| 354 | Oberspreewald-Lausitz | €27,088 |
| 355 | Altenburger Land | €27,068 |
| 356 | Freyung-Grafenau | €27,065 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Leer ranks 309 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 306 | Worms, Kreisfreie Stadt | 62.9% |
| 307 | Mannheim, Stadtkreis | 62.8% |
| 308 | Lüneburg, Landkreis | 62.8% |
| 309 | Leer | 62.8% |
| 310 | Braunschweig, Kreisfreie Stadt | 62.8% |
| 311 | Grafschaft Bentheim | 62.7% |
| 312 | St. Wendel | 62.7% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Leer ranks 383 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 386 | Düsseldorf, Kreisfreie Stadt | 10.3% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Leer ranks 151 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 148 | Neu-Ulm | 23.5% |
| 149 | Rhein-Kreis Neuss | 23.4% |
| 150 | Wolfenbüttel | 23.4% |
| 151 | Leer | 23.4% |
| 152 | Bamberg, Landkreis | 23.4% |
| 153 | Günzburg | 23.4% |
| 154 | Dillingen a.d. Donau | 23.3% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Leer ranks 180 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 177 | Heilbronn, Stadtkreis | 24.1% |
| 178 | St. Wendel | 24.1% |
| 179 | Regensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.1% |
| 180 | Leer | 24.0% |
| 181 | Sigmaringen | 24.0% |
| 182 | Nordwestmecklenburg | 24.0% |
| 183 | Mainz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 23.9% |
More on Leer: 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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