Even during the recession years of 2023 and 2024, more businesses were founded in Germany than closed. Accountable has analyzed startup activity across the 50 largest German cities using data from the Federal Statistical Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leverkusen tops the ranking with 28.23 new businesses per 1,000 residents \u2014 nearly double the national average of 15.05. It is followed by fellow North Rhine-Westphalian cities Cologne, D\u00fcsseldorf, and Bonn. At the bottom sits Halle (Saale) with just 10.16 new registrations per 1,000 residents \u2014 notably, six of the ten weakest cities for new business formation are located in East Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cologne also records the largest positive balance between new registrations and closures, with 65.32% more businesses opened than closed. The national average stands at 24.31%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n