About 34 million businesses were active in the European Union in 2024, employing a total of 164.5 million people, according to final structural business statistics published by the EU statistics agency Eurostat.
The companies recorded net turnover of more than 38.7 trillion euros ($45 trillion) and generated 10.9 trillion euros ($12.7 trillion) in value added.
Large businesses, with more than 249 employees, made up just 0.2% of all firms in the EU’s business economy but employed 37% of the workforce and produced about 49% of total value added, Eurostat said.
Medium-sized businesses, with 50 to 249 employees, accounted for 0.8% of firms, employed 15% of workers and generated 16% of value added.
The vast majority of companies, 99%, were micro and small businesses with up to 49 employees. They employed 48% of workers, or nearly half, and produced 35% of value added.
Services led in both employment and value added. The sector generated 51% of the business economy’s value added, accounted for 64% of all businesses and employed 53% of the workforce.
Industry made up 7% of businesses but produced 28% of total value added.