Poverty and living standards in Bielefeld, Germany: official figures
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 9th highest share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in 2023, at 13.0% (median of all 400 districts: 6.5%).
How high is child poverty in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 9th highest number of children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support in 2023, at 20.2 (median of all 400 districts: 10.2). In 2019 it was 21.3.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Bielefeld?
Bielefeld's share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age was 6.0% in 2023, 9th lowest of 22 large German cities and 33rd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 4.5%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Bielefeld?
Bielefeld's number of households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld) was 23.5 in 2022, the highest of 22 large German cities and 33rd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2018 it was 19.5.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households are on a low income in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 6th highest share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month in 2023, at 29.4% (median of all 400 districts: 23.1%). In 2019 it was 33.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Bielefeld?
Bielefeld's share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) was 9.2% in 2023, 11th lowest of 22 large German cities and 92nd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 11.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 10th highest number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults in 2023, at 1.20 (median of all 400 districts: 0.81). In 2019 it was 0.98.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Bielefeld?
Bielefeld's asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) was about €9 in 2024, 8th lowest of 22 large German cities and 173rd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was about €8.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Bielefeld?
Bielefeld's number of recorded crimes per 100,000 residents was 7,320 in 2022, 4th lowest of 22 large German cities and 82nd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2018 it was 6,963.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 10th lowest share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in 2023, at 13.4% (median of all 400 districts: 14.9%). In 2019 it was 12.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much does an apartment cost in Bielefeld?
An apartment in Bielefeld cost €208,167 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Bielefeld?
A house cost €454,921 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Bielefeld?
48% of the 168,000 households in Bielefeld were people living alone in 2021.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people own their home in Bielefeld?
33% of households owned their home in 2018.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Bielefeld compares with other cities in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) – large cities (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 9 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der erwerbsfähigen und nicht erwerbsfähigen Leistungsberechtigten nach SGB II an den unter 65-jährigen Einwohnern in %; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Berlin | 15.2% |
| 7 | Bochum | 14.4% |
| 8 | Köln | 13.5% |
| 9 | Bielefeld | 13.0% |
| 10 | Hamburg | 12.2% |
| 11 | Mannheim | 11.3% |
| 12 | Bonn | 11.1% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 – large cities (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 9 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Nicht erwerbsfähige SGBII-Leistungsberechtigte unter 15 Jahren je 100 Einwohner unter 15 Jahren; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Berlin | 24.0 |
| 7 | Bochum | 23.3 |
| 8 | Köln | 21.9 |
| 9 | Bielefeld | 20.2 |
| 10 | Hamburg | 19.9 |
| 11 | Mannheim | 19.4 |
| 12 | Bonn | 18.7 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) – large cities (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 14 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Bevölkerung mit Grundsicherung im Alter an den Einwohnern 65 Jahre und älter in %; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Bonn | 6.6% |
| 12 | Wuppertal | 6.5% |
| 13 | Augsburg | 6.2% |
| 14 | Bielefeld | 6.0% |
| 15 | Duisburg | 5.6% |
| 16 | Mannheim | 5.5% |
| 17 | Stuttgart | 5.4% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) – large cities (2024)
Bielefeld ranks 18 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Wiedervermietungsmieten inserierter Wohnungen (Angebotsmieten); kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Dortmund | about €9 |
| 16 | Essen | about €9 |
| 17 | Dresden | about €9 |
| 18 | Bielefeld | about €9 |
| 19 | Duisburg | about €8 |
| 20 | Bochum | about €8 |
| 21 | Wuppertal | about €8 |
Average apartment price (euros) (2022)
Bielefeld ranks 50 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average apartment price (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Paderborn | €220,253 |
| 48 | Leipzig | €215,010 |
| 49 | Wolfsburg | €214,520 |
| 50 | Bielefeld | €208,167 |
| 51 | Dresden | €207,849 |
| 52 | Solingen | €203,800 |
| 53 | Pforzheim | €203,706 |
More on Bielefeld: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung: INKAR – Indikatoren und Karten zur Raum- und Stadtentwicklung: 43 district (Kreise) indicators, 2012-2024 (table service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c743f54caf6…)
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