Economy, jobs and prices in Olpe (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 49,700 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 129% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 77th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Olpe?
The local economy produced €7.4 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Olpe?
About 80,350 people worked in Olpe in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Olpe?
At 4.1% in 2023, the unemployment rate in Olpe ranked 138th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). In 2019 the figure was 3.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Olpe?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in Olpe was 3.1% in 2023, 107th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. It was 2.6% 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 Olpe?
At 28.5% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Olpe ranked 146th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). It was 28.3% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Olpe?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Olpe was €3,717 in 2023, 141st highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. It was €3,458 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Olpe?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Olpe was 82.8% in 2023, 61st lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. In 2019 the figure was 77.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Olpe?
At €31,845 in 2023, the purchasing power per resident in Olpe ranked 49th highest of 400 German districts (district median €29,371). It was €25,483 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Olpe?
At 20.0% in 2023, the share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in Olpe ranked 186th highest of 400 German districts (district median 19.7%). That is down from 21.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Olpe?
In 2023, Olpe recorded a commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) of +3.9, compared with -11.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 104th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was +3.8.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Olpe?
The number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Olpe was 3.5 in 2023, 157th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 3.9. That is down from 3.6 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Olpe?
The largest part of the economy of Olpe in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 54.6% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (15.2%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Olpe?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 54.6% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Olpe growing?
Gross value added rose from €4.4 billion in 2015 to €6.8 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 53% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Olpe?
Of the 80,350 jobs located in Olpe in 2023, 26% in public services, education, health and other services, 40% in industry and 1.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Olpe?
The number of people working in Olpe rose by 4.1% between 2015 and 2023, to 80,350.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Olpe compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Olpe ranks 263 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 260 | Bad Dürkheim | 4.2% |
| 261 | Germersheim | 4.2% |
| 262 | Hildburghausen | 4.1% |
| 263 | Olpe | 4.1% |
| 264 | Regensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.1% |
| 265 | Hersfeld-Rotenburg | 4.1% |
| 266 | Erlangen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.1% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Olpe ranks 141 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 138 | Zweibrücken, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,726 |
| 139 | Rhein-Erft-Kreis | €3,725 |
| 140 | Ebersberg | €3,722 |
| 141 | Olpe | €3,717 |
| 142 | Main-Kinzig-Kreis | €3,716 |
| 143 | Forchheim | €3,709 |
| 144 | Lippe | €3,706 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Olpe ranks 49 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Heilbronn, Landkreis | €31,986 |
| 47 | Rhein-Neckar-Kreis | €31,986 |
| 48 | Fürth, Landkreis | €31,971 |
| 49 | Olpe | €31,845 |
| 50 | Rhein-Sieg-Kreis | €31,792 |
| 51 | Tuttlingen | €31,723 |
| 52 | Herzogtum Lauenburg | €31,718 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Olpe ranks 100 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 97 | Leipzig | 68.9% |
| 98 | Saale-Holzland-Kreis | 68.9% |
| 99 | Greiz | 68.9% |
| 100 | Olpe | 68.9% |
| 101 | Vogelsbergkreis | 68.9% |
| 102 | Miltenberg | 68.8% |
| 103 | Straubing, Kreisfreie Stadt | 68.8% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Olpe ranks 8 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Salzgitter, Kreisfreie Stadt | 59.0% |
| 6 | Böblingen | 57.4% |
| 7 | Tuttlingen | 56.3% |
| 8 | Olpe | 54.6% |
| 9 | Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Kreisfreie Stadt | 54.5% |
| 10 | Biberach | 53.2% |
| 11 | Erlangen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 53.1% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Olpe ranks 384 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 381 | Görlitz | 15.4% |
| 382 | Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Kreisfreie Stadt | 15.4% |
| 383 | Tuttlingen | 15.2% |
| 384 | Olpe | 15.2% |
| 385 | Nordsachsen | 15.0% |
| 386 | Altmarkkreis Salzwedel | 14.9% |
| 387 | Germersheim | 14.7% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Olpe ranks 368 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 365 | Germersheim | 15.0% |
| 366 | Altötting | 14.7% |
| 367 | Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.7% |
| 368 | Olpe | 14.6% |
| 369 | Mettmann | 14.6% |
| 370 | Salzgitter, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.4% |
| 371 | Frankfurt am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.4% |
More on Olpe: 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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