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Enhancements in the marine economy of the EU stimulate economic expansion

Approximately 5 million individuals are employed and a gross turnover of about EUR 890 billion is generated in the EU's marine-based economy.

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Approximately 5 million workers find employment within the EU's ocean-based economy, securing a...
Approximately 5 million workers find employment within the EU's ocean-based economy, securing a staggering EUR 890 billion in earnings.

Enhancements in the marine economy of the EU stimulate economic expansion

In the European Union, the blue economy stands as the lifeblood of a sustainable and thriving future. Since 2018, investment in innovative blue economy sectors has skyrocketed, with areas such as blue renewable energy grabbing a substantial share of yearly financial inflows, boosting the EU's competitive edge and commitment to carbon neutrality.

The latest 2025 Blue Economy Report offers an in-depth look at developments between 2021 and 2022 (with data from Eurostat). As we journey through the report, we find that the EU blue economy has been on a steady growth trajectory, employing 4.82 million people in 2022 (marking a 16% increase compared to the previous year) and generating a turnover of nearly EUR 890 billion (representing a whopping 29% increase compared to 2021). The GVA of the blue economy in 2022 also bolstered to EUR 250.7 billion, registering a humongous 33% increase in comparison to 2021.

Fueling the blue economy: Coastal tourism and marine renewable energy

A significant increase in GVA has been witnessed across blue economy sectors between 2013 and 2022. Among them, coastal tourism reigns supreme, generating 33% of EU blue economy GVA in 2022 and employing more than half of the total blue economy workforce (54%). After a dip in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this sector bounced back in 2022, demonstrating a healthy recovery in terms of GVA and turnover.

Meanwhile, offshore wind energy recorded the highest growth at +1049%, while maritime transport (+99%), shipbuilding and repair (+73%), marine living resources (+44%), and port activities (+36%) also exhibited solid growth. Overall, marine renewable energy has witnessed exponential expansion within the EU, with the EU offshore wind energy sector sailing on a fast-growth trajectory. This sector has come a long way from being a few pilot projects in the early 2000s to now claiming a total of 18.9 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity across 11 countries, harnessing enough power to fuel more than 6 million households and commanding 53% of the global investment in the sector in 2022.

A horizon of opportunities

As we peer into the future, the EU blue economy sectors are anticipated to continue their upward trend. According to JRC estimates, in 2023 the blue economy is projected to continue contributing EUR 263 billion to the EU GVA and employ 4.88 million people.

The report reveals that the EU is advancing steadily towards a sustainable blue economy, aligning with the European Green Deal's vision of enhancing resource efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness while eliminating net greenhouse gas emissions and preserving natural capital. Key contributors to this goal include maritime transport, with a 10% reduction in emissions per tonne of transported freight for sea and coastal freight water transport over the period 2013-2022, and the EU fishing fleet, achieving a remarkable 31% decrease in CO2 emissions over the same time span, thanks to improved efficiency and technologies.

Blue economy: A sea of opportunities

The blue economy encompasses a vast array of economic activities based on or related to the ocean, seas, and coasts, including longstanding sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture, coastal tourism, maritime transport, ports, and marine renewable energy. The EU Blue Economy Report, published annually by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, serves as the flagship publication, offering an in-depth analysis of the blue economy's dimensions and size within the European Union, complete with socio-economic performance indicators for sectors, activities, and countries.

For more specific and detailed statistics, including exact GVA and employment figures, head over to the EU Blue Economy Observatory. The Observatory equips readers with comprehensive insights and facilitates informed decision-making in the blue economy sector.

  1. The 2025 Blue Economy Report presents a comprehensive look at the EU's blue economy growth from 2021 to 2022, offering data from Eurostat.
  2. In 2022, the EU blue economy employed 4.82 million people, marking a 16% increase compared to the previous year.
  3. The turnover of the EU blue economy in 2022 reached nearly EUR 890 billion, representing a 29% increase compared to 2021.
  4. The GVA of the blue economy in 2022 bolstered to EUR 250.7 billion, registering a 33% increase in comparison to 2021.
  5. Coastal tourism is the largest contributor to the EU blue economy GVA, generating 33% in 2022 and employing more than half of the total blue economy workforce (54%).
  6. Offshore wind energy recorded the highest growth at +1049%, while other sectors like maritime transport, shipbuilding and repair, marine living resources, and port activities also exhibited solid growth.
  7. In 2023, the blue economy is projected to continue contributing EUR 263 billion to the EU GVA and employ 4.88 million people.
  8. The EU is advancing towards a sustainable blue economy, with maritime transport and the EU fishing fleet being key contributors to this goal, showing reductions in emissions and improved efficiency.
  9. The blue economy includes a vast array of economic activities such as fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, maritime transport, ports, and marine renewable energy.
  10. The EU Blue Economy Report, published annually by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, offers an in-depth analysis of the blue economy's dimensions and size within the European Union.
  11. For more specific and detailed statistics, readers can visit the EU Blue Economy Observatory, providing comprehensive insights and informed decision-making in the blue economy sector, covering data and cloud computing, technology, finance, business, real estate, travel, sports, sports-betting, weather, and weather-forecasting.

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