Economy, jobs and prices in Merzig-Wadern (Saarland, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 27,700 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 72% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 365th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Merzig-Wadern?
The local economy produced €3.4 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Merzig-Wadern?
About 43,270 people worked in Merzig-Wadern in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Merzig-Wadern?
The unemployment rate in Merzig-Wadern was 4.4% in 2023, 165th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5.0%. That is up from 4.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Merzig-Wadern?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in Merzig-Wadern was 3.2% in 2023, 113th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. That is down from 3.9% 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 Merzig-Wadern?
At 27.5% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in Merzig-Wadern ranked 128th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). It was 27.8% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Merzig-Wadern?
In 2023, Merzig-Wadern recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €3,502, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 157th lowest of 400 districts. That is up from €3,161 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Merzig-Wadern?
In 2023, Merzig-Wadern recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 89.7%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 171st highest of 400 districts. It was 86.5% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Merzig-Wadern?
At €27,409 in 2023, the purchasing power per resident in Merzig-Wadern ranked 69th lowest of 400 German districts (district median €29,371). That is up from €21,612 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Merzig-Wadern?
In 2023, Merzig-Wadern recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 21.5%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 121st highest of 400 districts. It was 22.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Merzig-Wadern?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in Merzig-Wadern was -10.0 in 2023, 192nd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. It was -9.7 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Merzig-Wadern?
The number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in Merzig-Wadern was 6.1 in 2023, 41st highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 3.9. In 2019 the figure was 5.6.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Merzig-Wadern?
The largest part of the economy of Merzig-Wadern in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 23.8% of gross value added, followed by industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (23.6%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Merzig-Wadern?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 23.6% of output in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Merzig-Wadern growing?
Gross value added rose from €2.3 billion in 2015 to €3.1 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 38% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Merzig-Wadern?
Of the 43,270 jobs located in Merzig-Wadern in 2023, 35% in public services, education, health and other services, 17% in industry and 1.3% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Merzig-Wadern?
The number of people working in Merzig-Wadern rose by 1.1% between 2015 and 2023, to 43,270.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Merzig-Wadern compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Merzig-Wadern ranks 239 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 236 | Gütersloh | 4.4% |
| 237 | Göppingen | 4.4% |
| 238 | Rosenheim, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.4% |
| 239 | Merzig-Wadern | 4.4% |
| 240 | Hochsauerlandkreis | 4.4% |
| 241 | Schwalm-Eder-Kreis | 4.4% |
| 242 | Bamberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.4% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Merzig-Wadern ranks 244 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 241 | Coesfeld | €3,509 |
| 242 | Steinfurt | €3,507 |
| 243 | Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,502 |
| 244 | Merzig-Wadern | €3,502 |
| 245 | Berchtesgadener Land | €3,498 |
| 246 | Bottrop, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,496 |
| 247 | Bremerhaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,495 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Merzig-Wadern ranks 332 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 329 | Nordsachsen | €27,419 |
| 330 | Gera, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,416 |
| 331 | Kaiserslautern, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,410 |
| 332 | Merzig-Wadern | €27,409 |
| 333 | Brandenburg an der Havel, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,376 |
| 334 | Saalfeld-Rudolstadt | €27,372 |
| 335 | Saale-Holzland-Kreis | €27,347 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Merzig-Wadern ranks 398 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 394 | Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 53.3% |
| 395 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | 52.2% |
| 396 | Lörrach | 52.1% |
| 397 | Trier, Kreisfreie Stadt | 51.1% |
| 398 | Merzig-Wadern | 49.4% |
| 399 | Trier-Saarburg | 49.2% |
| 400 | Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm | 48.8% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Merzig-Wadern ranks 227 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 224 | Steinburg | 24.0% |
| 225 | Göttingen | 24.0% |
| 226 | Hildesheim | 23.8% |
| 227 | Merzig-Wadern | 23.6% |
| 228 | Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen | 23.5% |
| 229 | Stormarn | 23.4% |
| 230 | Pirmasens, Kreisfreie Stadt | 23.4% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Merzig-Wadern ranks 144 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 141 | Bad Kissingen | 23.7% |
| 142 | Ludwigsburg | 23.5% |
| 143 | Tübingen, Landkreis | 23.5% |
| 144 | Merzig-Wadern | 23.5% |
| 145 | Neunkirchen | 23.5% |
| 146 | Oberallgäu | 23.5% |
| 147 | Oberhavel | 23.5% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Merzig-Wadern ranks 184 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 181 | Sigmaringen | 24.0% |
| 182 | Nordwestmecklenburg | 24.0% |
| 183 | Mainz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 23.9% |
| 184 | Merzig-Wadern | 23.8% |
| 185 | Peine | 23.8% |
| 186 | Pforzheim, Stadtkreis | 23.8% |
| 187 | Südliche Weinstraße | 23.8% |
More on Merzig-Wadern: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Saarland · 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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