Economy, jobs and prices in Südwestpfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 18,500 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 48% of the EU average (117% for Germany); the lowest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Südwestpfalz?
The local economy produced €1.9 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Südwestpfalz?
About 23,850 people worked in Südwestpfalz in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Südwestpfalz?
At 4.0% in 2023, the unemployment rate in Südwestpfalz ranked 130th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). In 2019 the figure was 3.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Südwestpfalz?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in Südwestpfalz was 4.0% in 2023, 165th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. It was 3.7% 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 Südwestpfalz?
In 2023, Südwestpfalz recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 34.8%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 145th highest of 400 districts. It was 28.0% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Südwestpfalz?
At €3,184 in 2023, the median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Südwestpfalz ranked 62nd lowest of 400 German districts (district median €3,604). In 2019 the figure was €2,763.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Südwestpfalz?
At 86.4% in 2023, the median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Südwestpfalz ranked 147th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 88.5%). It was 83.5% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Südwestpfalz?
The purchasing power per resident in Südwestpfalz was €29,292 in 2023, 190th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. In 2019 the figure was €23,031.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Südwestpfalz?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in Südwestpfalz was 28.6% in 2023, 2nd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. That is up from 28.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Südwestpfalz?
In 2023, Südwestpfalz recorded a commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) of -140.4, compared with -11.7 in the median German district, which ranks it the lowest of 400 districts. That is up from -144.0 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Südwestpfalz?
The number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Südwestpfalz was 3.2 in 2023, 130th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 3.9. In 2019 the figure was 2.8.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Südwestpfalz?
The largest part of the economy of Südwestpfalz in 2023 was finance, property and business services, at 29.0% of gross value added, followed by industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (21.5%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Südwestpfalz?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 21.5% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Südwestpfalz growing?
Gross value added rose from €1.3 billion in 2015 to €1.7 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 29% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Südwestpfalz?
Of the 23,850 jobs located in Südwestpfalz in 2023, 30% in public services, education, health and other services, 19% in industry and 2.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Südwestpfalz?
The number of people working in Südwestpfalz fell by 3.6% between 2015 and 2023, to 23,850.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Südwestpfalz compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Südwestpfalz ranks 271 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 268 | Rhein-Neckar-Kreis | 4.1% |
| 269 | Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis | 4.0% |
| 270 | St. Wendel | 4.0% |
| 271 | Südwestpfalz | 4.0% |
| 272 | Tuttlingen | 4.0% |
| 273 | Alzey-Worms | 4.0% |
| 274 | Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis | 4.0% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Südwestpfalz ranks 339 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 336 | Zwickau | €3,189 |
| 337 | Wartburgkreis | €3,187 |
| 338 | Oder-Spree | €3,185 |
| 339 | Südwestpfalz | €3,184 |
| 340 | Ostholstein | €3,177 |
| 341 | Coburg, Landkreis | €3,175 |
| 342 | Salzlandkreis | €3,168 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Südwestpfalz ranks 211 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 208 | Borken | €29,308 |
| 209 | Lahn-Dill-Kreis | €29,300 |
| 210 | Friesland (DE) | €29,296 |
| 211 | Südwestpfalz | €29,292 |
| 212 | Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt | €29,278 |
| 213 | Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen | €29,255 |
| 214 | Osnabrück, Landkreis | €29,254 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Südwestpfalz ranks 127 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 124 | Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis | 68.3% |
| 125 | Fürth, Kreisfreie Stadt | 68.3% |
| 126 | Heidenheim | 68.3% |
| 127 | Südwestpfalz | 68.3% |
| 128 | Esslingen | 68.2% |
| 129 | Verden | 68.2% |
| 130 | Rosenheim, Landkreis | 68.2% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Südwestpfalz ranks 267 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 264 | Duisburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.6% |
| 265 | Fürth, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.6% |
| 266 | Augsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.5% |
| 267 | Südwestpfalz | 21.5% |
| 268 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | 21.4% |
| 269 | Dessau-Roßlau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.4% |
| 270 | Hamm, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.8% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Südwestpfalz ranks 38 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Eichstätt | 29.2% |
| 36 | Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt | 29.1% |
| 37 | Leipzig, Kreisfreie Stadt | 29.1% |
| 38 | Südwestpfalz | 29.0% |
| 39 | Plön | 28.8% |
| 40 | Darmstadt-Dieburg | 28.6% |
| 41 | Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis | 28.5% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Südwestpfalz ranks 274 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 271 | Kitzingen | 20.1% |
| 272 | Bergstraße | 20.1% |
| 273 | Nürnberger Land | 20.1% |
| 274 | Südwestpfalz | 20.0% |
| 275 | Oldenburg, Landkreis | 20.0% |
| 276 | Stade | 20.0% |
| 277 | Weilheim-Schongau | 20.0% |
More on Südwestpfalz: 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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