Eurostat: EU businesses generated €10.9 trillion in value added in 2024
Final 2024 structural business statistics show 34 million EU enterprises employing 164.5 million people and generating €10.9 trillion in value added.
The story in focus
Eurostat's final structural business statistics for 2024 show around 34.0 million enterprises in the EU employing 164.5 million people, with net turnover above €38.7 trillion and €10.9 trillion in value added. Large firms, just 0.2% of enterprises, produced about 49% of value added.
- The EU counted around 34.0 million enterprises in 2024, employing 164.5 million people.
- Micro and small enterprises made up 99% of enterprises, 48% of employment and 35% of value added.
- Services contributed 51% of business-economy value added and 53% of employment.
Scale of the EU business economy
Final structural business statistics for 2024, published by Eurostat on 29 September 2026, put the number of enterprises in the EU business economy at around 34.0 million. Together they employed 164.5 million people, recorded net turnover of more than €38.7 trillion and generated €10.9 trillion in value added.
The business economy covers market producers in industry, construction, distributive trades and services. It excludes public administration, defence, compulsory social security and membership organisations, so the figures describe private-sector activity rather than the whole economy.
Large firms and small firms
Enterprises with more than 249 employees were 0.2% of the total but employed 37% of the workforce and generated around 49% of value added. Medium-sized enterprises, at 0.8% of the total, accounted for 15% of employment and 16% of value added.
Micro and small enterprises, those with up to 49 people employed, represented 99% of enterprises. They employed 48% of the business-economy workforce and produced 35% of value added.
Services lead by sector
Services generated 51% of total value added, the largest share among the four main sectors. The sector contained 64% of enterprises and employed 53% of the workforce.
Industry produced 28% of value added from 7% of enterprises and 20% of employment. Trade accounted for 15% of value added, 17% of enterprises and 18% of employment. Construction made up 12% of enterprises but 7% of value added and 8% of employment.
How large a share of EU business-economy value added did large enterprises generate in 2024?
Around 49%, according to Eurostat's final 2024 structural business statistics. Large enterprises, defined as those employing more than 249 people, made up only 0.2% of EU enterprises but employed 37% of the workforce.
Sources & further reading
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