Berlin

Berlin's economy is growing rapidly. In a national comparison, Berlin has been one of the frontrunners for years. Real gross domestic product rose by 3 % in 2019 compared to the previous year and thus exceeded the national average for the 6th year in a row. Berlin also had the strongest growth among the federal states. The nominal gross domestic product in Berlin amounted to 153,3 billion euro in 2019. The Capital is also ahead in terms of job growth and business startups. Companies and startups will find excellent location factors for their economic success here. The city has developed into the fastest growing start-up hub in Germany in recent years. The capital is particularly attractive to founders from technology to creative industries.

• GDP (2019): 153,3 billion euro
  
• GDP per capita (2019): 41.967 euro (since 2019, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita has exceeded the German average for the first time)
  
• Consumer price index (2015 ≙ 100): 105,9 (2019)
  
• Research quota: 3,5 % (2017)  

• Trans-European transport routes such as road, rail, aviation and inland waterway form a well established network of regional and inner-city transport routes.
• With the new Berlin Brandenburg BER airport and the modern design of the motorways, railways and shipping routes, the  transport infrastructure  in the capital has a secure and bright future.

• One of the strengths of Berlin as a business location is the mix of traditional industrial companies, lively medium-sized companies and young startups that ensure dynamic growth.
• Locational advantages have induced a high number of large corporations such as Daimler, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, Pfizer, Siemens, Sony and Vattenfall to set up corporate headquarters in Berlin. Countless small and medium-sized, mainly young and innovative companies have settled in Berlin.
• Number of companies in Berlin (2019): 190.201 of which manufacturing industry 21.136; Service companies: 169.065
• Workforce (2019): 1.527.912
• The Berlin-based companies come from a wide variety of industries, such as media, fashion, music, services, IT, healthcare, bio and environmental technology, optical industry and medical technology.
• As an international metropolis for startups, Berlin has a high level of start-up dynamism. With more than 500 start-ups a year, Berlin is Germany's number 1 start-up capital. Around 40.000 business start-ups per year are a clear indication of the strong development in the capital.
• Berlin offers a stable and safe business environment.
• The services that generate 86 % of the added value in Berlin make a major contribution to the growth. They expanded by 3,3 % in real terms in 2019, which is the 10th year in a row.
• The dynamism in the information & communication sector is particularly high with a plus of 6,1 %.
• As a service and innovation center, Berlin and Brandenburg are home to 5 clusters: health and life sciences, ICT, media and creative industries, transport, mobility and logistics, optics and photonics as well as energy technology.

• The capital is attracting more and more funds from abroad. Foreign direct investment in Berlin (2018) amounting to  23,456 million euro
• Increase in exports: In 2019, goods worth 15.2 billion euro were exported from Berlin (2018: 14,6 billion euro). The most important sales markets for Berlin products in 2019 were USA and China. The most important export goods include machineries, pharmaceutical and medical products, data processing equipment, electrical & optical products, foodstuffs, chemical products, automobiles, automobile spare parts and metal products.
• At the same time, Berlin's imports also increased in 2019 compared to 2018. According to the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistics Office, their volume in 2019 was 15,2 billion euro (2018: 14 billion euro). The most important import countries in 2019 were China, Poland and the Netherlands. Austria is among the 8th. 

In the past few years, spending on research and development (R&D) in Berlin has risen continuously. Berlin achieved the share of expenditures for public R&D in the gross domestic product with 1,27 % in 2018, the highest value of all federal states. Overall, R&D expenditure in Berlin in 2018 increased more than the national average. The share of all expenditures for R&D in GDP, including business and universities, was 3,51 % in Berlin and 3,13 % in Germany in the year 2018. 

• 4 universities, 4 art colleges, 7 technical colleges and 24 state-recognized private universities
• Over 250 research institutions in Berlin
• Berlin has great potential for a well-trained workforce as well as highly qualified specialists and managers.

• Tourism is one of the most important key sectors in Berlin with an annual turnover of around 11 billion euro and contribute an employment of 235.000 full-time employees.
• The number of overnight stays increased in 2019 by 1,25 million to a total of 34,12 million (+3,8 %).
• At the same time, the number of guests in Berlin increased by 461.000 to 13,96 million (+3,4 %).