Economy, jobs and prices in Saarland, Germany: official figures
GDP per person was 37,800 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 95% of the EU average; 11th highest of 16 states in Germany. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Saarland?
The regional economy produced €42.8 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 1.0% of Germany's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Saarland?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 4.1% in 2025, against 3.8% for Germany and 6.0% across the EU; 7th highest of 16 states in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Saarland?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 10.1% in 2016, against 7.1% for Germany; 4th highest of 14 states in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does Saarland spend on research and development?
Spending on research and development came to 1.62% of GDP in 2023 (3.10% nationally).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Saarland?
Women in Saarland earned 16% less per hour than men on average in 2025, 6th widest gender pay gap of 16 Länder (Germany: 16%).
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyHow many women work in Saarland?
75.5% of women aged 20 to 64 in Saarland were employed in 2025 (Germany: 77.8%).
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyHow much of Saarland's electricity is renewable?
Renewable sources generated 27.6% of the electricity produced in Saarland in 2022, 5th lowest of 15 Länder (Germany: 44.6%).
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyHow many women in Saarland are in work?
The employment rate for women aged 20 to 64 reached 75.1% in 2025 (Germany: 77.7%; EU: 71.3%); 4th lowest of 16 states in Germany. In 2015 it was 69.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Saarland growing?
In real terms the economy of Saarland grew by -2.2% in 2024 (gross value added) (Germany: -0.6%); the lowest of 16 states in Germany. In 2014 it was 3.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Saarland?
Residents of Saarland owned 646 cars per 1,000 people in 2024 (Germany: 590); the highest of 16 states in Germany. In 2014 it was 610.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Saarland?
Average compensation per employee (pay plus employer social contributions) was €38,484 in 2023, against €40,705 across Germany; 8th lowest of 16 states in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Saarland?
Visitors spent 2.5 million nights in tourist accommodation in 2025, 21% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Saarland?
The largest part of the economy of Saarland in 2023 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 28.3% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (25.5%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Saarland?
Factories, mines and energy produced 28.3% of the value added in Saarland in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Saarland growing?
Gross value added rose from €30.9 billion in 2015 to €38.7 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 25% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Saarland?
The number of people working in Saarland fell by 0.5% between 2015 and 2024, to 520,800.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 62.2% of people aged 60 to 64 in Saarland were in work in 2025, 2nd lowest of 16 Länder (Germany: 67.5%). Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
- The employment rate of 20- to 64-year-olds with a migration background in Saarland was 69.8% in 2025, against 82.3% for those without one. Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
- Gross fixed capital investment in Saarland equalled 18.9% of GDP in 2023, 3rd lowest of 13 Länder with data (Germany: 21.2%). Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
- Saarland had 219 public charging points for electric cars per 100,000 cars in 2026, against 400 nationally. Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
- Real GDP per person in work in Saarland stood at 93.9 in 2025 on an index where 2015 equals 100, the lowest of 13 Länder with data. Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
How Saarland compares with other states
Gender pay gap (unadjusted, % of men's hourly earnings) (2025)
Saarland ranks 6 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gender pay gap (unadjusted, % of men's hourly earnings) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Hesse | 19% |
| 4 | Hamburg | 17% |
| 5 | Lower Saxony | 16% |
| 6 | Saarland | 16% |
| 7 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 15% |
| 8 | Bremen | 14% |
| 9 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 14% |
Employment rate, ages 60 to 64 (2025)
Saarland ranks 15 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 60 to 64 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Bremen | 66.1% |
| 11 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 65.1% |
| 12 | Brandenburg | 64.6% |
| 13 | Thuringia | 64.5% |
| 14 | Saxony-Anhalt | 63.3% |
| 15 | Saarland | 62.2% |
| 16 | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 61.7% |
Gross fixed capital formation as a share of GDP (2023)
Saarland ranks 11 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gross fixed capital formation as a share of GDP |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Berlin | 20.0% |
| 8 | Hesse | 19.9% |
| 9 | Saxony-Anhalt | 19.8% |
| 10 | Thuringia | 19.0% |
| 11 | Saarland | 18.9% |
| 12 | Hamburg | 17.7% |
| 13 | Bremen | 14.5% |
Renewable share of electricity generation (2022)
Saarland ranks 11 of 15, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Renewable share of electricity generation |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Hesse | 48.4% |
| 9 | Brandenburg | 42.7% |
| 10 | Baden-Württemberg | 34.4% |
| 11 | Saarland | 27.6% |
| 12 | Hamburg | 22.6% |
| 13 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 17.7% |
| 14 | Saxony | 14.2% |
Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)
Saarland ranks 13 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Schleswig-Holstein | 76.8% |
| 11 | Hesse | 76.4% |
| 12 | Hamburg | 76.2% |
| 13 | Saarland | 75.1% |
| 14 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 74.9% |
| 15 | Berlin | 73.6% |
| 16 | Bremen | 70.1% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Saarland ranks 16 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Brandenburg | -0.9% |
| 11 | Bremen | -1.2% |
| 12 | Saxony-Anhalt | -1.3% |
| 13 | Bavaria | -1.4% |
| 14 | Rhineland-Palatinate | -1.5% |
| 15 | Thuringia | -1.8% |
| 16 | Saarland | -2.2% |
Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)
Saarland ranks 1 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saarland | 646 |
| 2 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 641 |
| 3 | Bavaria | 635 |
| 4 | Lower Saxony | 622 |
| 5 | Hesse | 622 |
| 6 | Baden-Württemberg | 620 |
| 7 | Schleswig-Holstein | 593 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2023)
Saarland ranks 9 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Bremen | €40,567 |
| 7 | North Rhine-Westphalia | €40,208 |
| 8 | Rhineland-Palatinate | €38,639 |
| 9 | Saarland | €38,484 |
| 10 | Lower Saxony | €37,712 |
| 11 | Schleswig-Holstein | €35,904 |
| 12 | Saxony | €34,965 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Saarland ranks 16 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Saxony | 17.3 million |
| 11 | Hamburg | 16.4 million |
| 12 | Brandenburg | 12.5 million |
| 13 | Thuringia | 8.1 million |
| 14 | Saxony-Anhalt | 7.1 million |
| 15 | Bremen | 2.9 million |
| 16 | Saarland | 2.5 million |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Saarland ranks 2 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baden-Württemberg | 34.2% |
| 2 | Saarland | 28.3% |
| 3 | Thuringia | 27.6% |
| 4 | Bavaria | 27.5% |
| 5 | Saxony-Anhalt | 26.6% |
| 6 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 26.5% |
| 7 | Lower Saxony | 26.3% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Saarland ranks 11 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Schleswig-Holstein | 23.3% |
| 9 | Lower Saxony | 23.3% |
| 10 | Baden-Württemberg | 23.1% |
| 11 | Saarland | 22.5% |
| 12 | Brandenburg | 21.6% |
| 13 | Saxony | 21.1% |
| 14 | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 20.5% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Saarland ranks 8 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Brandenburg | 28.2% |
| 6 | Saxony | 27.8% |
| 7 | Schleswig-Holstein | 26.3% |
| 8 | Saarland | 25.5% |
| 9 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 24.3% |
| 10 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 23.6% |
| 11 | Lower Saxony | 23.3% |
More on Saarland: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (purchasing power standards), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c21f724d14a6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 537f99167955…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP (million euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3677c4e6d67…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rate (age 15-74), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 13f5037ce93a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Youth unemployment rate (age 15-24), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83bb1aebc10b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rate (age 20-64), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 03191283bf5f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset rd_e_gerdreg: Research and development spending (% of GDP), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 36a9132b2284…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rates by sex, age and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 51bfca80dc8b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tran_r_vehst: Stock of vehicles by category and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5adf37bcb393…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gvagr: Real growth rate of regional gross value added (GVA) at basic prices by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ba2c4bdc7c37…)
- 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…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2coe: Compensation of employees by NUTS 2 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 895d7cc9e826…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tour_occ_nin2: Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 06f6a82909c0…)
- Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren): Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren der Länder: Tabellenband mit kompletten Zeitreihen zu allen Indikatoren (October 2026 edition), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f3f1b692389…)
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