Poverty and living standards in Köln, Germany: official figures
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 8th highest share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in 2023, at 13.5% (median of all 400 districts: 6.5%). In 2019 it was 12.3%.
How high is child poverty in Köln?
Köln's number of children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support was 21.9 in 2023, 8th highest of 22 large German cities and 23rd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 21.1.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Köln?
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 4th highest share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age in 2023, at 8.8% (median of all 400 districts: 2.4%). In 2019 it was 7.4%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Köln?
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 10th lowest number of households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld) in 2022, at 15.6 (median of all 400 districts: 14.7). In 2018 it was 14.1.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households are on a low income in Köln?
Köln's share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month was 27.0% in 2023, 7th lowest of 22 large German cities and 102nd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 32.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Köln?
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 11th highest share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) in 2023, at 9.5% (median of all 400 districts: 7.5%). In 2019 it was 11.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Köln?
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 6th highest number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults in 2023, at 1.38 (median of all 400 districts: 0.81). In 2019 it was 1.01.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Köln?
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 5th highest asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) in 2024, at about €14 (median of all 400 districts: about €9). In 2019 it was about €11.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Köln?
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 3rd highest number of recorded crimes per 100,000 residents in 2022, at 12,481 (median of all 400 districts: 5,341). In 2018 it was 11,546.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Köln?
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 4th lowest share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in 2023, at 12.5% (median of all 400 districts: 14.9%).
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much does an apartment cost in Köln?
An apartment in Köln cost €329,136 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Köln?
A house cost €645,023 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Köln?
48% of the 564,000 households in Köln were people living alone in 2021, and 4.3% were lone parents with children under 18.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people own their home in Köln?
24% of households owned their home in 2018.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Köln compares with other cities in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) – large cities (2023)
Köln ranks 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Bremen | 16.3% |
| 6 | Berlin | 15.2% |
| 7 | Bochum | 14.4% |
| 8 | Köln | 13.5% |
| 9 | Bielefeld | 13.0% |
| 10 | Hamburg | 12.2% |
| 11 | Mannheim | 11.3% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 – large cities (2023)
Köln ranks 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Wuppertal | 26.4 |
| 6 | Berlin | 24.0 |
| 7 | Bochum | 23.3 |
| 8 | Köln | 21.9 |
| 9 | Bielefeld | 20.2 |
| 10 | Hamburg | 19.9 |
| 11 | Mannheim | 19.4 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) – large cities (2023)
Köln ranks 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfurt am Main | 9.8% |
| 2 | Hamburg | 9.2% |
| 3 | Düsseldorf | 8.9% |
| 4 | Köln | 8.8% |
| 5 | Nürnberg | 7.9% |
| 6 | Dortmund | 7.4% |
| 7 | Bremen | 7.4% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) – large cities (2024)
Köln ranks 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Frankfurt am Main | about €16 |
| 4 | Stuttgart | about €15 |
| 5 | Hamburg | about €14 |
| 6 | Köln | about €14 |
| 7 | Düsseldorf | about €13 |
| 8 | Münster | about €13 |
| 9 | Augsburg | about €13 |
Average apartment price (euros) (2022)
Köln ranks 19 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average apartment price (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Lübeck | €335,915 |
| 17 | Erlangen | €335,297 |
| 18 | Wiesbaden | €334,152 |
| 19 | Köln | €329,136 |
| 20 | Rostock | €313,676 |
| 21 | Fürth | €305,455 |
| 22 | Karlsruhe | €301,280 |
More on Köln: 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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