Bremen's Economy in Figures: 2024 Statistics
Success storiesStatistics for the industry and service sector in Bremen
A glance at the statistics for Bremen’s economy in 2024 reveals: Germany’s smallest federal state has a lot to offer. We present an overview of the industry and service sector including key figures. All figures are taken from “Bremen in Zahlen” [Bremen in Figures], 2024 edition, published by the Statistical Office of the Federal State of Bremen and relate to the state of Bremen for the year 2023, unless stated otherwise.
Bremen's Economy in Figures: 2024 Statistics
2024 Statistics: Population and Income
Compared with the previous year, the population of the federal state of Bremen increased slightly to a total of 691,000 inhabitants (+6,000). Almost half of this number are in jobs subject to social insurance contributions. On average, they earn 3,942 euros gross (full time). Together, they generate a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 39.3 billion euros. This makes the city of Bremen (577,026 inhabitants) one of the largest in Germany in terms of population, ranked at number eleven.
2024 Statistics: Industry and Service Sector
As an industrial location, with its wide range of industries, the federal state of Bremen can compete at national and international level as well as regionally. These industries put the city of Bremen among the top ten major industrial locations in Germany. With the second-largest Mercedes plant in the world, Germany’s largest automotive transshipment point, a central plant for the Airbus group and an ArianeGroup site, vehicle construction is the most important sales driver in the state. And yes, rockets are classed as (space) vehicles too. The transportation and warehousing sector takes second place in terms of revenue. This includes services relating to logistics and transportation. The food and beverage sector also makes a significant contribution to Gross Domestic Product. Sectors such as IT and communication, tourism and property also play a role, together generating over one billion of revenue in the year in review. The area of general freelance, scientific and technical services is another important contributor, with four billion euros and some 31,000 employees. This reflects the importance of science and creativity in the federal state of Bremen.
2024 Statistics: Trade
With its eight port locations, the state of Bremen still maintains its maritime reputation. Bremerhaven is one of the four largest container ports in Northern Europe, while the ports in the city of Bremen focus on break-bulk and bulk trade (bulky cargo such as wind turbines and loose goods such as cereals). A glance at import and export statistics also reveals many insights into Bremen’s economy. Intermediate products account for the majority of imports:
- Aircraft components (Airbus wings, which are fitted in Bremen)
- Vehicle components (either for the Mercedes plant in Bremen or as components for vehicles imported for final assembly here)
- Coffee (raw coffee for Bremen coffee roasters)
- Electrical components (for Bremen’s strong measuring instruments sector)
- Fish (for the many fish-processing businesses)
- Mineral ores and coal (for Bremen’s steel plant)
In terms of exports, we can see that many of the finished products leaving Bremen originally arrived here as raw materials or intermediate products:
- Cars
- Steel and iron products
- Aircraft
- Measuring and control instruments
- Coffee
(selected data in each case)
2024 Statistics: Transportation
Bremen occupies a central location in Germany and Europe – and is therefore ideally connected to all local and long-distance transport networks. 4,602 ships visited last year, handling 58 million tonnes of goods. This activity focused in particular on the logistics centres distributed around Bremen, above all the GVZ Cargo Distribution Center in Bremen ranked number one for many years among all European cargo distribution centres and with over one million square metres of warehousing space. Links to motorways (A281/A1/A27) and railways via transshipment terminals ensure short routes to the rest of the country. Not forgetting the regional ‘Airport Bremen’, with over 20,000 take-offs and landings, 1.8 million passengers and the quality seal of “safest regional airport in Germany”: providing fast access to important hubs and holiday destinations for both business and leisure travellers.
2024 Statistics: Tourism
With 35 million day trips to the city of Bremen, 2.8 million overnight stays in the state of Bremen, more than 17,000 beds – the federal state is a popular destination. This makes hospitality an important economic factor that stimulates many other sectors: after all, visitors want to eat and drink or buy a souvenir along the way. Bremerhaven’s cruise ship terminal also regularly brings day tourists who take this opportunity to visit Bremen's impressive museums and event venues.
Success Stories
Theoretical physicist, industrial mathematician, manager – as a member of the start-up company TOPAS, Dr. Shruti Patel creates change in Bremen. However, being a role model has not always been easy for her.
Learn moreThe State of Bremen will present itself as having a forward-looking property market that can withstand turbulent times at the Expo Real 2024 trade fair (Europe's leading property event) in Munich, Germany. From the 7th to the 9th of October 2024, 27 companies from Bremen and Bremerhaven will showcase their pioneering, sustainable real estate projects on a joint 200 square metre stand at the fair.
Learn moreSix years ago, Arne Stehnken was still a new founder himself; today he is part of the management team at the software company syniotec in Bremen's city centre. To make the start easier for other founders, start-ups and creative people and to offer them a place to work, network and exchange ideas, he and his company have opened a creative and innovation centre - a source of inspiration for fresh ideas in the heart of Bremen´s city centre.
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