Poverty and living standards in Essen, Germany: official figures
Essen's share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) was 18.6% in 2023, the highest of 22 large German cities and 3rd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 19.1%.
How high is child poverty in Essen?
Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the highest number of children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support in 2023, at 30.2 (median of all 400 districts: 10.2). In 2019 it was 33.0.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Essen?
Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the 9th highest share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age in 2023, at 6.8% (median of all 400 districts: 2.4%). In 2019 it was 5.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Essen?
Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the 11th highest number of households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld) in 2022, at 17.8 (median of all 400 districts: 14.7). In 2018 it was 12.6.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households are on a low income in Essen?
Essen's share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month was 28.3% in 2023, 11th highest of 22 large German cities and 61st highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 32.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Essen?
Essen's share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) was 12.5% in 2023, 3rd highest of 22 large German cities and 24th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 14.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Essen?
Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the 5th highest number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults in 2023, at 1.53 (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 Essen?
Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the 8th lowest asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) in 2024, at about €9 (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 Essen?
Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the 10th lowest number of recorded crimes per 100,000 residents in 2022, at 8,610 (median of all 400 districts: 5,341). In 2018 it was 8,586.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Essen?
Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the 7th lowest share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in 2023, at 12.9% (median of all 400 districts: 14.9%). In 2019 it was 12.4%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much does an apartment cost in Essen?
An apartment in Essen cost €186,441 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Essen?
A house cost €515,566 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Essen?
45% of the 292,000 households in Essen were people living alone in 2021, and 4.1% were lone parents with children under 18.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people own their home in Essen?
24% of households owned their home in 2018.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyCan people in Essen afford their bills?
In the EU's 2023 quality of life survey, 5% of residents of Essen said they had difficulty paying their bills at the end of the month most of the time.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 30% of residents of Essen agreed that it is easy to find good housing at a reasonable price. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 65% of residents of Essen felt safe walking alone at night in the city. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Essen compares with other cities in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) – large cities (2023)
Essen ranks 1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essen | 18.6% |
| 2 | Duisburg | 18.1% |
| 3 | Dortmund | 18.0% |
| 4 | Wuppertal | 16.8% |
| 5 | Bremen | 16.3% |
| 6 | Berlin | 15.2% |
| 7 | Bochum | 14.4% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 – large cities (2023)
Essen ranks 1 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)
Essen ranks 9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Dortmund | 7.4% |
| 7 | Bremen | 7.4% |
| 8 | München | 7.0% |
| 9 | Essen | 6.8% |
| 10 | Berlin | 6.7% |
| 11 | Bonn | 6.6% |
| 12 | Wuppertal | 6.5% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) – large cities (2024)
Essen ranks 16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Bremen | about €11 |
| 14 | Nürnberg | about €11 |
| 15 | Dortmund | about €9 |
| 16 | Essen | about €9 |
| 17 | Dresden | about €9 |
| 18 | Bielefeld | about €9 |
| 19 | Duisburg | about €8 |
Average apartment price (euros) (2022)
Essen ranks 56 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average apartment price (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Pforzheim | €203,706 |
| 54 | Moers | €200,106 |
| 55 | Kassel | €190,922 |
| 56 | Essen | €186,441 |
| 57 | Oberhausen | €177,381 |
| 58 | Bottrop | €173,088 |
| 59 | Hamm | €167,570 |
More on Essen: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · 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…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
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