Economy, jobs and prices in Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 63,400 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 165% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 40th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €21.8 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 248,250 people worked in Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Münster?
In 2023, the city of Münster recorded an unemployment rate of 4.9%, compared with 5.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 196th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 4.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Münster?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Münster was 2.8% in 2023, 84th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. It was 3.1% 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 Münster?
In 2023, the city of Münster recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 41.8%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 36th highest of 400 districts. It was 38.0% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Münster?
In 2023, the city of Münster recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €4,007, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 58th highest of 400 districts. It was €3,632 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Münster?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in the city of Münster was 87.8% in 2023, 183rd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. That is down from 88.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Münster?
The purchasing power per resident in the city of Münster was €31,380 in 2023, 66th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. It was €25,529 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Münster?
At 20.1% in 2023, the share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Münster ranked 178th highest of 400 German districts (district median 19.7%). That is up from 19.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Münster?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in the city of Münster was +31.7 in 2023, 33rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. In 2019 the figure was +30.5.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Münster?
At 5.4 in 2023, the number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in the city of Münster ranked 74th highest of 400 German districts (district median 3.9). It was 5.7 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 36.2% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (30.0%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Factories, mines and energy produced 8.1% of the value added in Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €14.4 billion in 2015 to €19.9 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 38% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 248,250 jobs located in Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 45% in public services, education, health and other services, 6% in industry and 0.7% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt rose by 11.9% between 2015 and 2023, to 248,250.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 205 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 202 | Erzgebirgskreis | 5.0% |
| 203 | Kaiserslautern, Landkreis | 5.0% |
| 204 | Main-Taunus-Kreis | 4.9% |
| 205 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.9% |
| 206 | Oberhavel | 4.9% |
| 207 | Segeberg | 4.9% |
| 208 | Ostholstein | 4.9% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 58 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Tuttlingen | €4,025 |
| 56 | Heidenheim | €4,020 |
| 57 | Offenbach, Landkreis | €4,014 |
| 58 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,007 |
| 59 | Freising | €4,000 |
| 60 | Rems-Murr-Kreis | €3,993 |
| 61 | Main-Spessart | €3,990 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 66 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Gifhorn | €31,425 |
| 64 | Freising | €31,411 |
| 65 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | €31,392 |
| 66 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | €31,380 |
| 67 | Landshut, Kreisfreie Stadt | €31,369 |
| 68 | Darmstadt-Dieburg | €31,367 |
| 69 | Regensburg, Landkreis | €31,312 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 348 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 345 | Hamm, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.6% |
| 346 | Recklinghausen | 60.5% |
| 347 | Euskirchen | 60.4% |
| 348 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.4% |
| 349 | Tübingen, Landkreis | 60.3% |
| 350 | Weimar, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.3% |
| 351 | Schleswig-Flensburg | 60.3% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 395 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 392 | Harburg | 9.4% |
| 393 | Berlin | 9.0% |
| 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% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 31 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 34 | Kaiserslautern, Landkreis | 29.2% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 25 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Delmenhorst, Kreisfreie Stadt | 37.4% |
| 23 | Vorpommern-Greifswald | 36.9% |
| 24 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 36.5% |
| 25 | Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 36.2% |
| 26 | Rosenheim, Kreisfreie Stadt | 36.2% |
| 27 | Barnim | 35.5% |
| 28 | Kaufbeuren, Kreisfreie Stadt | 35.3% |
More on Münster, 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…)
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