Poverty and living standards in Bochum, Germany: official figures
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the 7th highest share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in 2023, at 14.4% (median of all 400 districts: 6.5%). In 2019 it was 14.9%.
How high is child poverty in Bochum?
Bochum's number of children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support was 23.3 in 2023, 7th highest of 22 large German cities and 21st highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 26.2.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Bochum?
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the 4th lowest share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age in 2023, at 5.2% (median of all 400 districts: 2.4%). In 2019 it was 4.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Bochum?
Bochum's number of households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld) was 14.7 in 2022, 9th lowest of 22 large German cities and 200th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2018 it was 12.8.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households are on a low income in Bochum?
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the 8th highest share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month in 2023, at 29.1% (median of all 400 districts: 23.1%). In 2019 it was 34.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Bochum?
Bochum's share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) was 11.0% in 2023, 6th highest of 22 large German cities and 41st highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 12.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Bochum?
Bochum's number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults was 1.23 in 2023, 9th highest of 22 large German cities and 108th highest of 400 districts nationwide. 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 Bochum?
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the 4th lowest asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) in 2024, at about €8 (median of all 400 districts: about €9). In 2019 it was about €7.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Bochum?
Bochum's number of recorded crimes per 100,000 residents was 8,581 in 2022, 9th lowest of 22 large German cities and 57th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2018 it was 8,782.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Bochum?
Among 22 large German cities, Bochum had the lowest share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in 2023, at 11.3% (median of all 400 districts: 14.9%). In 2019 it was 10.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much does an apartment cost in Bochum?
An apartment in Bochum cost €166,624 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Bochum?
A house cost €396,596 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Bochum?
46% of the 188,000 households in Bochum were people living alone in 2021.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people own their home in Bochum?
27% of households owned their home in 2018.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Bochum compares with other cities in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) – large cities (2023)
Bochum ranks 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Wuppertal | 16.8% |
| 5 | Bremen | 16.3% |
| 6 | Berlin | 15.2% |
| 7 | Bochum | 14.4% |
| 8 | Köln | 13.5% |
| 9 | Bielefeld | 13.0% |
| 10 | Hamburg | 12.2% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 – large cities (2023)
Bochum ranks 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Bremen | 27.0 |
| 5 | Wuppertal | 26.4 |
| 6 | Berlin | 24.0 |
| 7 | Bochum | 23.3 |
| 8 | Köln | 21.9 |
| 9 | Bielefeld | 20.2 |
| 10 | Hamburg | 19.9 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) – large cities (2023)
Bochum ranks 19 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Mannheim | 5.5% |
| 17 | Stuttgart | 5.4% |
| 18 | Karlsruhe | 5.4% |
| 19 | Bochum | 5.2% |
| 20 | Münster | 4.9% |
| 21 | Dresden | 2.3% |
| 22 | Leipzig | 1.0% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) – large cities (2024)
Bochum ranks 20 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Essen | about €9 |
| 17 | Dresden | about €9 |
| 18 | Bielefeld | about €9 |
| 19 | Duisburg | about €8 |
| 20 | Bochum | about €8 |
| 21 | Wuppertal | about €8 |
| 22 | Leipzig | about €7 |
Average apartment price (euros) (2022)
Bochum ranks 61 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average apartment price (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Bottrop | €173,088 |
| 59 | Hamm | €167,570 |
| 60 | Krefeld | €167,177 |
| 61 | Bochum | €166,624 |
| 62 | Dortmund | €166,418 |
| 63 | Recklinghausen | €164,408 |
| 64 | Hildesheim | €161,302 |
More on Bochum: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.