Poverty and living standards in Bremen, Germany: official figures
Bremen's share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) was 16.3% in 2023, 5th highest of 22 large German cities and 11th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 17.2%.
How high is child poverty in Bremen?
Bremen's number of children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support was 27.0 in 2023, 4th highest of 22 large German cities and 9th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 30.3.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Bremen?
Among 22 large German cities, Bremen had the 6th highest share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age in 2023, at 7.4% (median of all 400 districts: 2.4%). In 2019 it was 6.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Bremen?
Among 22 large German cities, Bremen had the 2nd lowest number of households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld) in 2022, at 9.9 (median of all 400 districts: 14.7). In 2018 it was 8.2.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households are on a low income in Bremen?
Among 22 large German cities, Bremen had the 3rd highest share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month in 2023, at 29.9% (median of all 400 districts: 23.1%). In 2019 it was 35.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Bremen?
Bremen's share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) was 10.6% in 2023, 7th highest of 22 large German cities and 45th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 12.5%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Bremen?
Among 22 large German cities, Bremen had the 3rd highest number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults in 2023, at 1.54 (median of all 400 districts: 0.81). In 2019 it was 1.30.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Bremen?
Bremen's asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) was about €11 in 2024, 10th lowest of 22 large German cities and 63rd 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 Bremen?
Bremen's number of recorded crimes per 100,000 residents was 11,475 in 2022, 5th highest of 22 large German cities and 15th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2018 it was 10,907.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Bremen?
Among 22 large German cities, Bremen had the 3rd highest share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in 2023, at 14.7% (median of all 400 districts: 14.9%). In 2019 it was 13.5%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much does an apartment cost in Bremen?
An apartment in Bremen cost €223,725 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Bremen?
A house cost €317,903 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Bremen?
51% of the 297,000 households in Bremen were people living alone in 2021, and 5.1% were lone parents with children under 18.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people own their home in Bremen?
35% of households owned their home in 2018.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Bremen compares with other cities in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) – large cities (2023)
Bremen ranks 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Duisburg | 18.1% |
| 3 | Dortmund | 18.0% |
| 4 | Wuppertal | 16.8% |
| 5 | Bremen | 16.3% |
| 6 | Berlin | 15.2% |
| 7 | Bochum | 14.4% |
| 8 | Köln | 13.5% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 – large cities (2023)
Bremen ranks 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essen | 30.2 |
| 2 | Dortmund | 29.3 |
| 3 | Duisburg | 28.6 |
| 4 | Bremen | 27.0 |
| 5 | Wuppertal | 26.4 |
| 6 | Berlin | 24.0 |
| 7 | Bochum | 23.3 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) – large cities (2023)
Bremen ranks 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Köln | 8.8% |
| 5 | Nürnberg | 7.9% |
| 6 | Dortmund | 7.4% |
| 7 | Bremen | 7.4% |
| 8 | München | 7.0% |
| 9 | Essen | 6.8% |
| 10 | Berlin | 6.7% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) – large cities (2024)
Bremen ranks 13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Bonn | about €12 |
| 11 | Mannheim | about €12 |
| 12 | Karlsruhe | about €12 |
| 13 | Bremen | about €11 |
| 14 | Nürnberg | about €11 |
| 15 | Dortmund | about €9 |
| 16 | Essen | about €9 |
Average apartment price (euros) (2022)
Bremen ranks 43 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average apartment price (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Erfurt | €228,573 |
| 41 | Neuss | €225,641 |
| 42 | Ludwigshafen am Rhein | €225,354 |
| 43 | Bremen | €223,725 |
| 44 | Göttingen | €223,208 |
| 45 | Braunschweig | €221,515 |
| 46 | Jena | €221,057 |
More on Bremen: 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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