Economy, jobs and prices in Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 70,000 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 182% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 28th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €80.3 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 811,610 people worked in Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Köln?
At 8.7% in 2023, the unemployment rate in the city of Köln ranked 31st highest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). In 2019 the figure was 7.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Köln?
At 5.7% in 2023, the unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Köln ranked 118th highest of 400 German districts (district median 4.4%). In 2019 the figure was 5.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Köln?
At 45.1% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in the city of Köln ranked 15th highest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). That is up from 42.3% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Köln?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in the city of Köln was €4,283 in 2023, 32nd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. In 2019 the figure was €3,882.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Köln?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in the city of Köln was 88.1% in 2023, 190th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. It was 85.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Köln?
At €31,167 in 2023, the purchasing power per resident in the city of Köln ranked 80th highest of 400 German districts (district median €29,371). It was €25,316 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Köln?
At 16.2% in 2023, the share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Köln ranked 110th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 19.7%). In 2019 the figure was 16.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Köln?
In 2023, the city of Köln recorded a commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) of +27.6, compared with -11.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 41st highest of 400 districts. That is up from +26.8 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Köln?
At 5.0 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in the city of Köln ranked 101st highest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). It was 6.6 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was finance, property and business services, at 33.3% of gross value added, followed by trade, transport, hospitality and communications (26.9%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 13.9% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €56.0 billion in 2015 to €73.4 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 31% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 811,610 jobs located in Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 33% in public services, education, health and other services, 8% in industry and 0.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt rose by 10.4% between 2015 and 2023, to 811,610.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 31 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Offenbach am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.8% |
| 29 | Brandenburg an der Havel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.8% |
| 30 | Vorpommern-Greifswald | 8.8% |
| 31 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.7% |
| 32 | Kyffhäuserkreis | 8.7% |
| 33 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.6% |
| 34 | Dessau-Roßlau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.6% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 32 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Hamburg | €4,304 |
| 30 | Ostalbkreis | €4,302 |
| 31 | Ulm, Stadtkreis | €4,295 |
| 32 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,283 |
| 33 | Regensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,262 |
| 34 | Mainz, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,260 |
| 35 | Heilbronn, Landkreis | €4,259 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 80 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 77 | Freudenstadt | €31,183 |
| 78 | Bergstraße | €31,180 |
| 79 | Reutlingen | €31,174 |
| 80 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | €31,167 |
| 81 | Darmstadt, Kreisfreie Stadt | €31,154 |
| 82 | Hamburg | €31,146 |
| 83 | Roth | €31,115 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 299 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 296 | Uelzen | 63.1% |
| 297 | Aurich | 63.1% |
| 298 | Herzogtum Lauenburg | 63.1% |
| 299 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 63.1% |
| 300 | Rhein-Lahn-Kreis | 63.1% |
| 301 | Uckermark | 63.1% |
| 302 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 63.0% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 365 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 362 | Gera, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.9% |
| 363 | Leipzig, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.9% |
| 364 | Wiesbaden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.9% |
| 365 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.9% |
| 366 | Hamburg | 13.9% |
| 367 | Offenbach, Landkreis | 13.8% |
| 368 | Hof, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.6% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 15 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Starnberg | 34.2% |
| 13 | München, Kreisfreie Stadt | 33.8% |
| 14 | Mülheim an der Ruhr, Kreisfreie Stadt | 33.4% |
| 15 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 33.3% |
| 16 | Hamburg | 33.0% |
| 17 | Stuttgart, Stadtkreis | 32.2% |
| 18 | Erlangen-Höchstadt | 32.1% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 204 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | Leipzig | 23.3% |
| 202 | Sonneberg | 23.3% |
| 203 | Wartburgkreis | 23.3% |
| 204 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 23.2% |
| 205 | Hochsauerlandkreis | 23.1% |
| 206 | Saale-Holzland-Kreis | 23.1% |
| 207 | Zwickau | 22.9% |
More on Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · North Rhine-Westphalia · 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.