Economy, jobs and prices in Birkenfeld (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 31,200 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 81% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 311th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Birkenfeld?
The local economy produced €2.9 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Birkenfeld?
About 38,640 people worked in Birkenfeld in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Birkenfeld?
At 6.5% in 2023, the unemployment rate in Birkenfeld ranked 95th highest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). It was 5.6% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Birkenfeld?
In 2023, Birkenfeld recorded an unemployment rate among under-25s of 6.7%, compared with 4.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 78th highest of 400 districts. It was 5.7% 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 Birkenfeld?
The share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Birkenfeld was 37.9% in 2023, 88th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 31.8%. In 2019 the figure was 38.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Birkenfeld?
In 2023, Birkenfeld recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €3,384, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 108th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was €3,052.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Birkenfeld?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Birkenfeld was 93.0% in 2023, 100th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. It was 88.3% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Birkenfeld?
The purchasing power per resident in Birkenfeld was €28,326 in 2023, 120th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. It was €22,272 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Birkenfeld?
At 20.7% in 2023, the share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in Birkenfeld ranked 153rd highest of 400 German districts (district median 19.7%). It was 21.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Birkenfeld?
In 2023, Birkenfeld recorded a commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) of -13.9, compared with -11.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 186th lowest of 400 districts. It was -10.9 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Birkenfeld?
The number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Birkenfeld was 2.9 in 2023, 96th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 3.9. In 2019 the figure was 5.9.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Birkenfeld?
The largest part of the economy of Birkenfeld in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 33.8% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (22.8%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Birkenfeld?
Factories, mines and energy produced 22.5% of the value added in Birkenfeld in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Birkenfeld growing?
Gross value added rose from €2.0 billion in 2015 to €2.6 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 33% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Birkenfeld?
Of the 38,640 jobs located in Birkenfeld in 2023, 41% in public services, education, health and other services, 20% in industry and 0.9% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Birkenfeld?
The number of people working in Birkenfeld fell by 0.5% between 2015 and 2023, to 38,640.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Birkenfeld compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Birkenfeld ranks 95 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 92 | Nordsachsen | 6.6% |
| 93 | Elbe-Elster | 6.6% |
| 94 | Zweibrücken, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.5% |
| 95 | Birkenfeld | 6.5% |
| 96 | Göttingen | 6.5% |
| 97 | Schweinfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.5% |
| 98 | Mettmann | 6.4% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Birkenfeld ranks 293 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 290 | Heidekreis | €3,393 |
| 291 | Friesland (DE) | €3,391 |
| 292 | Höxter | €3,385 |
| 293 | Birkenfeld | €3,384 |
| 294 | Trier-Saarburg | €3,379 |
| 295 | Uelzen | €3,372 |
| 296 | Wunsiedel i. Fichtelgebirge | €3,370 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Birkenfeld ranks 281 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 278 | Kleve | €28,347 |
| 279 | Lüchow-Dannenberg | €28,347 |
| 280 | Hof, Landkreis | €28,338 |
| 281 | Birkenfeld | €28,326 |
| 282 | Emsland | €28,319 |
| 283 | Schwerin, Kreisfreie Stadt | €28,285 |
| 284 | Meißen | €28,276 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Birkenfeld ranks 335 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 332 | Marburg-Biedenkopf | 61.5% |
| 333 | Jena, Kreisfreie Stadt | 61.4% |
| 334 | Würzburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 61.4% |
| 335 | Birkenfeld | 61.3% |
| 336 | Berlin | 61.2% |
| 337 | Leverkusen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 61.2% |
| 338 | Pforzheim, Stadtkreis | 61.1% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Birkenfeld ranks 248 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 245 | Coesfeld | 22.7% |
| 246 | Hagen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 22.6% |
| 247 | Düren | 22.5% |
| 248 | Birkenfeld | 22.5% |
| 249 | Wolfenbüttel | 22.4% |
| 250 | Lichtenfels | 22.3% |
| 251 | Regionalverband Saarbrücken | 22.2% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Birkenfeld ranks 175 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 172 | Wittmund | 22.9% |
| 173 | Städteregion Aachen | 22.9% |
| 174 | Kaufbeuren, Kreisfreie Stadt | 22.9% |
| 175 | Birkenfeld | 22.8% |
| 176 | Coesfeld | 22.8% |
| 177 | Euskirchen | 22.8% |
| 178 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | 22.7% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Birkenfeld ranks 41 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Oldenburg (Oldenburg), Kreisfreie Stadt | 34.1% |
| 39 | Jena, Kreisfreie Stadt | 34.1% |
| 40 | Bad Kissingen | 33.9% |
| 41 | Birkenfeld | 33.8% |
| 42 | Koblenz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 33.8% |
| 43 | Rhein-Lahn-Kreis | 33.7% |
| 44 | Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis | 33.4% |
More on Birkenfeld: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Rhineland-Palatinate · 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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