Poverty and living standards in Münster, Germany: official figures
Münster's share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) was 7.8% in 2023, 5th lowest of 22 large German cities and 152nd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 7.6%.
How high is child poverty in Münster?
Münster's number of children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support was 14.0 in 2023, 7th lowest of 22 large German cities and 108th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 15.0.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Münster?
Among 22 large German cities, Münster had the 3rd lowest share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age in 2023, at 4.9% (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 Münster?
Among 22 large German cities, Münster had the 6th highest number of households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld) in 2022, at 20.0 (median of all 400 districts: 14.7). In 2018 it was 15.3.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households are on a low income in Münster?
Among 22 large German cities, Münster had the 10th highest share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month in 2023, at 28.8% (median of all 400 districts: 23.1%). In 2019 it was 33.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Münster?
Münster's share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) was 6.1% in 2023, the lowest of 22 large German cities and 94th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 8.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Münster?
Münster's number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults was 0.91 in 2023, 7th lowest of 22 large German cities and 170th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 0.78.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Münster?
Münster's asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) was about €13 in 2024, 7th highest of 22 large German cities and 18th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was about €10.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Münster?
Among 22 large German cities, Münster had the 9th highest number of recorded crimes per 100,000 residents in 2022, at 10,409 (median of all 400 districts: 5,341). In 2018 it was 8,193.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Münster?
Among 22 large German cities, Münster had the 11th lowest share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in 2023, at 13.6% (median of all 400 districts: 14.9%). In 2019 it was 13.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much does an apartment cost in Münster?
An apartment in Münster cost €299,015 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Münster?
A house cost €585,997 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Münster?
51% of the 171,000 households in Münster were people living alone in 2021.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people own their home in Münster?
42,511 households owned their home in 2018.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Münster compares with other cities in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) – large cities (2023)
Münster ranks 18 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Nürnberg | 9.6% |
| 16 | Dresden | 8.6% |
| 17 | Stuttgart | 8.1% |
| 18 | Münster | 7.8% |
| 19 | Augsburg | 7.2% |
| 20 | Leipzig | 7.0% |
| 21 | Karlsruhe | 6.2% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 – large cities (2023)
Münster ranks 16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Düsseldorf | 17.1 |
| 14 | Frankfurt am Main | 17.0 |
| 15 | Nürnberg | 15.4 |
| 16 | Münster | 14.0 |
| 17 | Stuttgart | 13.1 |
| 18 | Dresden | 12.5 |
| 19 | Augsburg | 11.5 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) – large cities (2023)
Münster ranks 20 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)
Münster ranks 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Hamburg | about €14 |
| 6 | Köln | about €14 |
| 7 | Düsseldorf | about €13 |
| 8 | Münster | about €13 |
| 9 | Augsburg | about €13 |
| 10 | Bonn | about €12 |
| 11 | Mannheim | about €12 |
Average apartment price (euros) (2022)
Münster ranks 24 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average apartment price (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Fürth | €305,455 |
| 22 | Karlsruhe | €301,280 |
| 23 | Nürnberg | €300,944 |
| 24 | Münster | €299,015 |
| 25 | Würzburg | €297,576 |
| 26 | Ulm | €288,847 |
| 27 | Reutlingen | €286,191 |
More on Münster: 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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