Economy, jobs and prices in Westerwaldkreis (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 38,800 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 101% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 177th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Westerwaldkreis?
The local economy produced €9.0 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Westerwaldkreis?
About 102,250 people worked in Westerwaldkreis in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Westerwaldkreis?
At 3.3% in 2023, the unemployment rate in Westerwaldkreis ranked 73rd lowest of 400 German districts (district median 5.0%). That is up from 2.8% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Westerwaldkreis?
At 2.9% in 2023, the unemployment rate among under-25s in Westerwaldkreis ranked 98th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 4.4%). It was 2.5% 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 Westerwaldkreis?
At 24.7% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Westerwaldkreis ranked 82nd lowest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). That is up from 17.8% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Westerwaldkreis?
At €3,522 in 2023, the median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in Westerwaldkreis ranked 172nd lowest of 400 German districts (district median €3,604). In 2019 the figure was €3,145.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Westerwaldkreis?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in Westerwaldkreis was 86.2% in 2023, 142nd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. In 2019 the figure was 82.4%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Westerwaldkreis?
The purchasing power per resident in Westerwaldkreis was €29,876 in 2023, 163rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. In 2019 the figure was €23,564.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Westerwaldkreis?
In 2023, Westerwaldkreis recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 25.1%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 17th highest of 400 districts. That is down from 25.9% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Westerwaldkreis?
At -17.7 in 2023, the commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Westerwaldkreis ranked 154th lowest of 400 German districts (district median -11.7). That is down from -17.2 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Westerwaldkreis?
In 2023, Westerwaldkreis had 3.9 company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses, compared with 3.9 in the median German district, which ranks it 195th highest of 400 districts. It was 3.3 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Westerwaldkreis?
The largest part of the economy of Westerwaldkreis in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 26.4% of gross value added, followed by trade, transport, hospitality and communications (26.3%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Westerwaldkreis?
Factories, mines and energy produced 26.4% of the value added in Westerwaldkreis in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Westerwaldkreis growing?
Gross value added rose from €5.7 billion in 2015 to €8.2 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 44% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Westerwaldkreis?
Of the 102,250 jobs located in Westerwaldkreis in 2023, 28% in public services, education, health and other services, 25% in industry and 0.7% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Westerwaldkreis?
The number of people working in Westerwaldkreis rose by 4.7% between 2015 and 2023, to 102,250.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Westerwaldkreis compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Westerwaldkreis ranks 328 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 325 | Schwäbisch Hall | 3.3% |
| 326 | Fulda | 3.3% |
| 327 | Ingolstadt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 3.3% |
| 328 | Westerwaldkreis | 3.3% |
| 329 | Garmisch-Partenkirchen | 3.3% |
| 330 | Neustadt a. d. Waldnaab | 3.3% |
| 331 | Deggendorf | 3.3% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Westerwaldkreis ranks 229 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 226 | Günzburg | €3,530 |
| 227 | Schwabach, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,530 |
| 228 | Emsland | €3,527 |
| 229 | Westerwaldkreis | €3,522 |
| 230 | Limburg-Weilburg | €3,521 |
| 231 | Südliche Weinstraße | €3,515 |
| 232 | Unna | €3,514 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Westerwaldkreis ranks 163 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | Main-Kinzig-Kreis | €29,898 |
| 161 | Krefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | €29,892 |
| 162 | Kelheim | €29,890 |
| 163 | Westerwaldkreis | €29,876 |
| 164 | Germersheim | €29,867 |
| 165 | Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis | €29,865 |
| 166 | Schaumburg | €29,864 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Westerwaldkreis ranks 253 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | Bergstraße | 64.9% |
| 251 | Suhl, Kreisfreie Stadt | 64.8% |
| 252 | Halle (Saale), Kreisfreie Stadt | 64.8% |
| 253 | Westerwaldkreis | 64.7% |
| 254 | Ostholstein | 64.6% |
| 255 | Märkischer Kreis | 64.6% |
| 256 | Hildesheim | 64.5% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Westerwaldkreis ranks 184 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 181 | Harz | 26.6% |
| 182 | Amberg-Sulzbach | 26.6% |
| 183 | Lüchow-Dannenberg | 26.5% |
| 184 | Westerwaldkreis | 26.4% |
| 185 | Bayreuth, Landkreis | 26.3% |
| 186 | Krefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 26.3% |
| 187 | Regensburg, Landkreis | 26.3% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Westerwaldkreis ranks 290 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 287 | Suhl, Kreisfreie Stadt | 19.9% |
| 288 | Saarlouis | 19.8% |
| 289 | Waldeck-Frankenberg | 19.8% |
| 290 | Westerwaldkreis | 19.8% |
| 291 | Bernkastel-Wittlich | 19.7% |
| 292 | Zollernalbkreis | 19.7% |
| 293 | Cham | 19.7% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Westerwaldkreis ranks 318 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 315 | Rottal-Inn | 18.0% |
| 316 | Augsburg, Landkreis | 17.9% |
| 317 | Erlangen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 17.9% |
| 318 | Westerwaldkreis | 17.9% |
| 319 | Osnabrück, Landkreis | 17.9% |
| 320 | Rhein-Kreis Neuss | 17.8% |
| 321 | Ansbach, Landkreis | 17.8% |
More on Westerwaldkreis: 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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