facts and figures
Development service in figures
At the end of each year, we collect the latest figures on development service. How many professional development workers are working under a development service contract at this point in time? In which countries are they working? How many of them are abroad with their families? How old do professional development workers tend to be? And what is the gender balance?
This is where you can find up-to-date figures. The data are often broken down according to sending agency. There is considerable variation in the number of professionals sent out by the individual sending agencies. And the agencies tend to focus on different geographical regions and fields of work as well.
professional development workers statistic 2025
On 31.12.2025, a total of 691 professional development workers were under contract, including 345 within the Civil Peace Service (ZFD).
Geographical distribution Professionals per agency Age Gender balance Type of placement
Source: Survey conducted by the Association of Development Services (AGdD)
Reference date: 31.12.2025
Countries of operation
Professionals work in 80 countries around the world. The interactive map shows how many professionals are currently working in each country.
Regional breakdown
| Europe | Africa | America | Asia | Oceania | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGIAMONDO | 5 | 91 | 60 | 42 | 2 | 200 |
| Coworkers-CFI | 0 | 39 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 62 |
| Dienste in Übersee (Service oversea) | 0 | 39 | 47 | 42 | 7 | 135 |
| EIRENE | 11 | 15 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 48 |
| forumZFD | 14 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 40 |
| GIZ | 2 | 118 | 15 | 49 | 0 | 184 |
| Weltfriedensdienst (World Peace service) | 0 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 22 |
| Total | 32 | 315 | 138 | 197 | 9 | 691 |
| Total in % | 4,60 | 45,60 | 20,00 | 28,50 | 1,30 | 100 |
Since 2020, the regional allocation of the statistics has been based on the DAC country list (DAC stands for 'Development Assistance Committee' of the European Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)). Source: www.bmz.de).
Professionals working in Israel and Taiwan (countries which are not on the DAC list) were counted as working in Asia. Africa remains the main regional focus for the deployment of professionals with 45,6 %, i.e. almost half of all professionals, followed by Asia (including the Middle East) with 28,5 %. Professional development workers were serving in a total of 83 countries worldwide (in 2024 there were 80 countries). Details can be found in the country statistics.
Age structure
| Age | Professional Development Workers |
|---|---|
| ≤30 years | 35 |
| 31-40 years | 246 |
| 41-50 years | 180 |
| >50 years | 230 |
Gender ratio professional development workers
| Gender | Number of professionals |
|---|---|
| Women | 57 % |
| Men | 43 % |
Proportion of professionals serving in the Civil Peace Service Programme
According to agencies with contract according EhfG; Reference date 31.12.2025
| Type of intervention | AGIAMONDO | Coworkers CFI | Dienste in Übersee (Service Overseas) | Eirene | Pro Peace | GIZ | World Peace Service | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| professionals | 200 | 62 | 135 | 48 | 40 | 184 | 22 | 691 |
| of which civil peace service | 93 | 0 | 52 | 47 | 40 | 93 | 20 | 345 |