Germany counts 3,200 private security companies. The top ten control 35 percent of the market while 2,150 smaller firms make up two thirds of the sector. Employment reaches 285,000 full-time positions as turnover totals 12.8 billion euros.
Key Takeaways
- There were 3,200 private security companies operating in Germany in 2022.
- The top 10 security firms control 35% of the market share in Germany as of 2023.
- SME security companies (under 50 employees) number 2,150, making up 67% of the sector.
- In 2022, the total turnover of the German private security industry reached 12.8 billion euros, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year.
- The private security market in Germany is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2023 to 2028, driven by rising demand for cybersecurity services.
- Security services accounted for 62% of the industry's revenue in 2023, totaling approximately 8.1 billion euros.
- Object protection services dominate with 55% market penetration among companies in 2023.
- Manned guarding services generated 7.2 billion euros, comprising 56% of revenues in 2022.
- Alarm response services are offered by 42% of private security firms.
- Private security adherence to §34a GewO is mandatory, with 95% compliance rate in audits.
- The Security and Private Investigators Act (SÜG) was updated in 2021, increasing licensing requirements.
- 82% of firms adopted digital reporting tools compliant with GDPR in 2023.
- Total employment in Germany's private security industry was 285,000 full-time equivalents in 2022.
- 68% of security personnel in Germany were employed in object protection services as of 2023.
- The average annual salary for a security guard in Germany was 32,500 euros in 2022.
Germany’s private security sector grew in revenue and cybersecurity demand, driven by many small firms.
Related reading
01 · Category
Company Profiles20 stats
01
There were 3,200 private security companies operating in Germany in 2022.
02
The top 10 security firms control 35% of the market share in Germany as of 2023.
03
SME security companies (under 50 employees) number 2,150, making up 67% of the sector.
04
Securitas AB holds a 12% market share in Germany's private security market in 2022.
05
45% of security companies are family-owned businesses in Germany.
06
New company registrations in the security sector rose by 8% to 320 in 2023.
07
Average company age in the industry is 18 years, with 20% over 30 years old.
08
28% of security firms operate in more than one federal state.
09
Bankruptcy rate among security companies was 1.2% in 2022, below industry average.
10
Foreign-owned security firms account for 15% of total companies in Germany.
11
Market leaders like Kötter Sicherheit employ over 15,000 staff in Germany.
12
1,200 security companies are BDSW members as of 2023.
13
Startup security firms increased by 15% to 180 new entries in 2022.
14
Regional concentration: 25% of firms in North Rhine-Westphalia.
15
Average number of employees per company is 85 in 2023.
16
Merger and acquisition activity saw 12 deals in security sector in 2022.
17
62% of companies offer 24/7 services.
18
Digital-native security startups number 45 in Germany.
19
Export-oriented security firms: 8% of total.
20
Innovation investment by top 50 firms: 250 million euros annually.
Interpretation
Company Profiles Interpretation
In Germany’s private security company profiles, the sector is dominated by small players yet increasingly concentrated, with 2,150 SME firms under 50 employees making up 67% of the companies while the top 10 firms hold 35% of the market and Securitas AB alone reaches a 12% share in 2022.
02 · Category
Economic Indicators20 stats
01
In 2022, the total turnover of the German private security industry reached 12.8 billion euros, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year.
02
The private security market in Germany is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2023 to 2028, driven by rising demand for cybersecurity services.
03
Security services accounted for 62% of the industry's revenue in 2023, totaling approximately 8.1 billion euros.
04
The object protection segment generated 4.2 billion euros in revenue in 2022, representing 33% of total industry turnover.
05
Germany's private security industry contributed 0.3% to the national GDP in 2021.
06
Investment in security technology within the private sector rose by 7.8% to 2.1 billion euros in 2023.
07
The event security market segment was valued at 850 million euros in 2022.
08
Private security firms exported services worth 450 million euros in 2023.
09
Average revenue per security company in Germany stood at 5.2 million euros in 2022.
10
The cybersecurity services submarket grew by 12.4% to 1.8 billion euros in 2023.
11
In 2022, the total turnover of the German private security industry was 12.8 billion euros with a 4.5% growth rate.
12
Projected market volume for private security services in Germany by 2025 is 15.2 billion euros.
13
Revenue from technology-based security solutions reached 3.4 billion euros in 2023.
14
The retail security segment contributed 1.9 billion euros to industry turnover in 2022.
15
Public sector contracts made up 28% of total private security revenues in 2023.
16
Inflation-adjusted growth in security spending was 2.8% in 2022.
17
Logistics security services market valued at 1.2 billion euros annually.
18
Average profit margin for security firms was 6.5% in 2022.
19
Foreign direct investment in German security tech startups reached 180 million euros in 2023.
20
Healthcare security revenues grew 5.2% to 950 million euros in 2022.
Interpretation
Economic Indicators Interpretation
Germany’s private security industry is strengthening economically with turnover reaching 12.8 billion euros in 2022 and security services making up 62% or about 8.1 billion euros in 2023, alongside steady technology investment growth of 7.8% to 2.1 billion euros, underscoring the upward momentum seen in these economic indicators.
03 · Category
Service Offerings19 stats
01
Object protection services dominate with 55% market penetration among companies in 2023.
02
Manned guarding services generated 7.2 billion euros, comprising 56% of revenues in 2022.
03
Alarm response services are offered by 42% of private security firms.
04
Video surveillance installation services grew by 9.5% in demand in 2023.
05
Event security services covered 15,000 major events with 120,000 personnel days in 2022.
06
Cash-in-transit services transported 450 billion euros in 2023.
07
Cybersecurity consulting is provided by 18% of security companies.
08
Mobile patrol services account for 22% of total service hours billed.
09
Access control systems were installed in 85,000 sites by private firms in 2022.
10
Transport security services hold 18% of service portfolio for average firm.
11
Remote monitoring centers handled 2.5 million alarms in 2022.
12
Biometric access systems deployed in 12,000 commercial sites.
13
Airport security contracts involve 8,000 private personnel daily.
14
Corporate risk assessment services grew 11% in bookings.
15
35% of services now include environmental security measures.
16
VIP protection services billed 320 million euros in 2023.
17
Integrated facility management with security: 28% penetration.
18
Cyber-physical security hybrids offered by 22% of providers.
19
Stadium security for Bundesliga: 50,000 personnel hours per season.
Interpretation
Service Offerings Interpretation
For Germany’s private security industry, service offerings are clearly being led by object protection at 55 percent market penetration, while manned guarding still drives scale with 7.2 billion euros in 2022 revenue and alarm response is available at 42 percent of firms.
More related reading
04 · Category
Trends And Regulations19 stats
01
Private security adherence to §34a GewO is mandatory, with 95% compliance rate in audits.
02
The Security and Private Investigators Act (SÜG) was updated in 2021, increasing licensing requirements.
03
82% of firms adopted digital reporting tools compliant with GDPR in 2023.
04
EU PSD2 directive impacted 25% of cash-handling security services in Germany.
05
Sustainability reporting became mandatory for large security firms (>500 employees) in 2023.
06
AI integration in security tech rose to 35% adoption rate among top firms.
07
Post-COVID hygiene protocols remain in 65% of security contracts.
08
Drone surveillance regulations tightened, limiting use to 12% of firms.
09
Collective bargaining agreements cover 70% of security workforce under ver.di.
10
Data protection compliance audits conducted 45,000 times in 2022.
11
§34a training mandatory for 100% of guards since 2014 update.
12
ESG criteria integrated in 40% of public tenders for security.
13
Remote worker surveillance regulations challenged in 15 court cases.
14
Blockchain for security logs piloted in 10% of large firms.
15
Minimum wage for security guards set at 12.82 euros/hour in 2023.
16
5G-enabled security devices regulated under new BNetzA standards.
17
Whistleblower protection extended to security personnel in 2023.
18
Quantum computing threats addressed in 20% of risk assessments.
19
Cross-border security operations require EU Blue Card for 30% more staff.
Interpretation
Trends And Regulations Interpretation
With 95% compliance to §34a GewO and the 2021 SÜG update tightening licensing, Germany’s private security sector is rapidly modernizing compliance through GDPR compliant digital reporting at 82% in 2023 and new regulatory demands like sustainability reporting for large firms, while AI adoption reaches 35% and PSD2 reshapes cash handling for 25% of services.
05 · Category
Workforce Data20 stats
01
Total employment in Germany's private security industry was 285,000 full-time equivalents in 2022.
02
68% of security personnel in Germany were employed in object protection services as of 2023.
03
The average annual salary for a security guard in Germany was 32,500 euros in 2022.
04
Female employees make up 22% of the private security workforce in Germany in 2023.
05
Over 45,000 apprentices were trained in security-related professions in 2022.
06
15% of security employees hold a university degree, up from 12% in 2020.
07
The industry faced a shortage of 25,000 qualified security personnel in 2023.
08
Part-time workers constitute 18% of the total security workforce in Germany.
09
Average working hours for security guards are 38.5 hours per week in 2022.
10
72% of security firms reported increased training investments in 2023, averaging 1,200 euros per employee.
11
Total number of security guards employed reached 210,000 in 2023.
12
Apprenticeship completion rate in security professions was 78% in 2022.
13
Overtime hours averaged 450 per security employee annually in 2022.
14
Regional distribution shows 35% of workforce in Bavaria and NRW combined.
15
55% of employees have IHK security certification as of 2023.
16
Youth employment (under 25) is 14% of total workforce.
17
Training costs per employee averaged 950 euros in 2023.
18
Turnover rate in the industry was 12.5% in 2022.
19
Night shift workers comprise 42% of security personnel.
20
Digital skills training reached 65% of workforce in 2023.
Interpretation
Workforce Data Interpretation
In Germany’s private security workforce, 285,000 full-time equivalents in 2022 show a largely object-protection driven industry with 68% of personnel, while growing education levels are visible as university degrees rise to 15% from 12% in 2020 and 45,000 apprentices were trained in 2022.
report visual · Key figures
Germany’s private security market growth and outlook
Turnover rose in 2022 and the market is projected to keep growing through 2028, driven by rising demand for services such as cybersecurity.
4.2%
In 2022, the total turnover of the German private security industry reached 12.8 billion euros, marking a 4.2% increase
3.5%
The private security market in Germany is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2023 to 2028, driven by rising demand
12.4%
The cybersecurity services submarket grew by 12.4% to 1.8 billion euros in 2023.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
James Okoro. (2026, February 13). Germany Private Security Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-private-security-industry-statistics
MLA
James Okoro. "Germany Private Security Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/germany-private-security-industry-statistics.
Chicago
James Okoro. 2026. "Germany Private Security Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-private-security-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
45 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level