In Germany in 2024, of the approximately 40,9 million employed people aged 15 to 64, roughly 9,8 million were between 55 and 64 years old. (Photo: © yuragolub/123RF.com)
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February 2026
Almost a quarter of the working population in Germany is between 55 and 64 years old, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This gives Germany the oldest working population in the European Union (EU).
In this country, in the year 2024 on approximately 40,9 million employed people between the ages of 15 and 64 great 9,8 million people between 55 and 64 years old old, announces the Federal Statistical Office (destiny) based on data from the EU statistical office Eurostat*.
Germany thus has a share of just under a quarter (24,0 percent) about the highest value of all EU countries For comparison: Across the EU, older workers made up around one-fifth (20,1%) of the workforce. Following Germany in the EU in 2024 were Italy (23,0% of workers aged 55 to 64) and Bulgaria (22,3%). The lowest proportion of older workers was in Malta: Only about one in nine workers (10,8%) in the island nation was between 55 and 64 years old. The proportions were also comparatively low in Luxembourg (12,8%) and Poland (15,2%).
*The data on the employed population comes from the EU Labour Force Survey. It considers employed persons between the ages of 15 and 64.
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"A key reason for the high proportion of older workers in Germany is the increasing Aging populationFurthermore, people in this country Retiring later and later"This is explained by the Federal Statistical Office. According to the data, the average retirement age in 2024 was..." German pension insurance The average retirement age for women and men is 64,7 years. Twenty years earlier, it had been 63,0 years for women and 63,1 years for men.
"One reason for the increase is the Gradual increase of the statutory retirement age "To 67 years by 2029," Destatis continued. "The phasing out of two early retirement schemes, which could be partially claimed as early as age 60, also plays a role."
The data on the employed persons in the EU member states, differentiated by age and gender, are available in the Eurostat database Available. Further information on the employment of older people in comparison to other EU countries can be found on the website "Europe in figures".
New special page on pensions and retirement securityThe new special page destatis.de/rente The Federal Statistical Office provides data on the topic Pensions and retirement provision ready.
The services offered cover the areas of demographics, labor, income, and the public budget. They range from projections of the future number of people of retirement age and analyses of employment and income of pensioners to data on the development of government spending on pensions.
Facts and figures on the topic Skilled workers The Federal Statistical Office compiles destatis.de/fachkraefte.
Source: Federal Statistical OfficeDHB now also digital!Simply click here and register for the digital German Crafts Journal (DHB)!
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