Economy, jobs and prices in Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt (Saxony, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 45,800 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 119% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 97th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The local economy produced €28.8 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt?
About 350,030 people worked in Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Dresden?
In 2023, the city of Dresden recorded an unemployment rate of 6.1%, compared with 5.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 119th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 5.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Dresden?
The unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Dresden was 5.7% in 2023, 112th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 4.4%. That is down from 5.8% 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 Dresden?
At 32.7% in 2023, the share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer in the city of Dresden ranked 177th highest of 400 German districts (district median 31.8%). That is up from 31.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Dresden?
In 2023, the city of Dresden recorded a median monthly gross wage of full-time employees of €3,689, compared with €3,604 in the median German district, which ranks it 151st highest of 400 districts. It was €3,200 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Dresden?
In 2023, the city of Dresden recorded a median full-time wage of women as a share of men's of 94.3%, compared with 88.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 75th highest of 400 districts. That is down from 94.7% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Dresden?
The purchasing power per resident in the city of Dresden was €27,262 in 2023, 62nd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. It was €21,975 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Dresden?
The share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' in the city of Dresden was 11.9% in 2023, 37th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 19.7%. It was also 11.9% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Dresden?
In 2023, the city of Dresden recorded a commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) of +14.7, compared with -11.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 71st highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was +15.0.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Dresden?
The number of company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses in the city of Dresden was 4.7 in 2023, 128th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 3.9. That is up from 4.0 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The largest part of the economy of Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 32.0% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (24.3%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Factories, mines and energy produced 17.6% of the value added in Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt growing?
Gross value added rose from €18.7 billion in 2015 to €26.3 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 41% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt?
Of the 350,030 jobs located in Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt in 2023, 38% in public services, education, health and other services, 12% in industry and 0.2% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt?
The number of people working in Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt rose by 9.8% between 2015 and 2023, to 350,030.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 119 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 116 | Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 117 | Baden-Baden, Stadtkreis | 6.1% |
| 118 | Suhl, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 119 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 120 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 121 | Wolfsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 122 | Spree-Neiße | 6.1% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 151 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 148 | Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis | €3,701 |
| 149 | Hagen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,697 |
| 150 | Göttingen | €3,690 |
| 151 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,689 |
| 152 | Fürth, Kreisfreie Stadt | €3,684 |
| 153 | Nürnberger Land | €3,683 |
| 154 | Warendorf | €3,683 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 339 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 336 | Salzgitter, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,320 |
| 337 | Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,319 |
| 338 | Bautzen | €27,282 |
| 339 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,262 |
| 340 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,255 |
| 341 | Chemnitz, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,237 |
| 342 | Emden, Kreisfreie Stadt | €27,218 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 184 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 181 | Görlitz | 66.6% |
| 182 | Fulda | 66.5% |
| 183 | Vorpommern-Rügen | 66.5% |
| 184 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 66.5% |
| 185 | Barnim | 66.4% |
| 186 | Zweibrücken, Kreisfreie Stadt | 66.4% |
| 187 | Coburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 66.4% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 319 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 316 | Cuxhaven | 17.8% |
| 317 | Werra-Meißner-Kreis | 17.8% |
| 318 | Rhein-Sieg-Kreis | 17.7% |
| 319 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 17.6% |
| 320 | Passau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 17.5% |
| 321 | Oberhausen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 17.2% |
| 322 | Rotenburg (Wümme) | 17.2% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 128 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Rosenheim, Landkreis | 24.4% |
| 126 | Osnabrück, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.4% |
| 127 | Potsdam-Mittelmark | 24.3% |
| 128 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.3% |
| 129 | Chemnitz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.3% |
| 130 | Osterholz | 24.3% |
| 131 | Heilbronn, Stadtkreis | 24.2% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 57 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Göttingen | 32.2% |
| 55 | Chemnitz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
| 56 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
| 57 | Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 32.0% |
| 58 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 31.7% |
| 59 | Heidekreis | 31.7% |
| 60 | Celle | 31.6% |
More on Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Saxony · 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.