Data
From 2021 to 2023, more businesses were founded than closed in Germany every year: in 2023, there were 268,936 births against 252,237 deaths. For 2024, the deaths are still provisional.
Reference years 2021–2024 · Destatis table 52111-0010 of 21 September 2026, retrieved on 10/13/2026 · by Martin Adamec
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| Year | Active enterprises | Births | Birth rate | Deaths | Death rate | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,145,703 | 245,746 | 7.8% | 219,659 | 7.0% | +26,087 |
| 2022 | 3,164,855 | 252,479 | 8.0% | 232,089 | 7.3% | +20,390 |
| 2023 | 3,190,747 | 268,936 | 8.4% | 252,237 | 7.9% | +16,699 |
| 2024 | 3,240,939 | 252,090 | 7.8% | 331,590* | 10.2%* | −79,500* |
For 2018 to 2020, the table only contains values with a different definition of economic activities (excluding division 64.2, including 94); they are not comparable with this series and are therefore omitted.
The rates differ greatly between industries. For 2024, only the deaths are marked as provisional; the 2023 death rate, which is no longer provisional, is therefore shown alongside.
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| WZ | Economic section | Active enterprises 2024 | Births 2024 | Birth rate 2024 | Death rate 2024* | Death rate 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Arts, entertainment and recreation | 90,289 | 10,738 | 11.9% | 16.2% | 10.3% |
| P | Education | 60,608 | 6,733 | 11.1% | 11.6% | 8.4% |
| N | Administrative and support service activities | 239,286 | 25,042 | 10.5% | 11.1% | 8.6% |
| J | Information and communication | 134,400 | 13,531 | 10.1% | 12.4% | 9.7% |
| I | Accommodation and food service activities | 239,221 | 22,456 | 9.4% | 10.8% | 8.0% |
| H | Transportation and storage | 100,305 | 8,458 | 8.4% | 11.2% | 8.8% |
| M | Professional, scientific and technical activities | 483,709 | 40,583 | 8.4% | 11.5% | 8.8% |
| K | Financial and insurance activities | 75,338 | 5,884 | 7.8% | 9.1% | 7.2% |
| D | Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 66,420 | 4,904 | 7.4% | 12.9% | 15.9% |
| L | Real estate activities | 201,508 | 14,788 | 7.3% | 7.9% | 5.8% |
| G | Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles | 538,248 | 37,496 | 7.0% | 10.7% | 8.1% |
| F | Construction | 378,480 | 24,910 | 6.6% | 9.7% | 7.5% |
| Q | Human health and social work activities | 247,473 | 10,466 | 4.2% | 5.7% | 4.7% |
| C | Manufacturing | 198,362 | 7,527 | 3.8% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| E | Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation | 9,806 | 317 | 3.2% | 4.4% | 3.4% |
| B | Mining and quarrying | 1,536 | 37 | 2.4% | 4.1% | 4.2% |
Every year, new businesses appear and others disappear. A list reflecting a particular day therefore contains, over time, businesses that no longer exist, and new ones are missing. In industries with high rates, this happens faster. Ask for the data status of every list and use a list promptly. The rates are an indication of this pace, but not an error rate for any particular list.
The figures come from Destatis; you may reuse them with attribution. Suggestion:
b2bkartei.de: Business births and deaths in Germany 2021–2024. Based on Destatis, GENESIS table 52111-0010 (as of 21 September 2026). Retrieved on 13 October 2026. https://b2bkartei.de/en/daten/gruendungen-und-schliessungen/
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