Poverty and living standards in Wuppertal, Germany: official figures
Wuppertal's share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) was 16.8% in 2023, 4th highest of 22 large German cities and 9th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 17.0%.
How high is child poverty in Wuppertal?
Among 22 large German cities, Wuppertal had the 5th highest number of children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support in 2023, at 26.4 (median of all 400 districts: 10.2). In 2019 it was 29.1.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Wuppertal?
Wuppertal's share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age was 6.5% in 2023, 11th lowest of 22 large German cities and 23rd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 5.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Wuppertal?
Wuppertal's number of households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld) was 18.1 in 2022, 10th highest of 22 large German cities and 127th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2018 it was 13.8.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households are on a low income in Wuppertal?
Among 22 large German cities, Wuppertal had the 7th highest share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month in 2023, at 29.2% (median of all 400 districts: 23.1%). In 2019 it was 33.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Wuppertal?
Among 22 large German cities, Wuppertal had the 2nd highest share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) in 2023, at 14.5% (median of all 400 districts: 7.5%). In 2019 it was 18.2%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Wuppertal?
Wuppertal's number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults was 1.55 in 2023, 2nd highest of 22 large German cities and 58th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 1.47.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Wuppertal?
Wuppertal's asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) was about €8 in 2024, 4th lowest of 22 large German cities and 156th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was about €6.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Wuppertal?
Wuppertal's number of recorded crimes per 100,000 residents was 8,853 in 2022, 11th lowest of 22 large German cities and 52nd highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2018 it was 8,982.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Wuppertal?
Wuppertal's share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support was 13.4% in 2023, 9th lowest of 22 large German cities and 54th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 12.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much does an apartment cost in Wuppertal?
An apartment in Wuppertal cost €131,087 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Wuppertal?
A house cost €406,436 to buy on average in 2022.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Wuppertal?
47% of the 181,000 households in Wuppertal were people living alone in 2021.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people own their home in Wuppertal?
57,269 households owned their home in 2018.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Wuppertal compares with other cities in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) – large cities (2023)
Wuppertal ranks 4 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)
Wuppertal ranks 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Dortmund | 29.3 |
| 3 | Duisburg | 28.6 |
| 4 | Bremen | 27.0 |
| 5 | Wuppertal | 26.4 |
| 6 | Berlin | 24.0 |
| 7 | Bochum | 23.3 |
| 8 | Köln | 21.9 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) – large cities (2023)
Wuppertal ranks 12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Essen | 6.8% |
| 10 | Berlin | 6.7% |
| 11 | Bonn | 6.6% |
| 12 | Wuppertal | 6.5% |
| 13 | Augsburg | 6.2% |
| 14 | Bielefeld | 6.0% |
| 15 | Duisburg | 5.6% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) – large cities (2024)
Wuppertal ranks 21 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)
Wuppertal ranks 69 of 77, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average apartment price (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Remscheid | €155,276 |
| 67 | Saarbrücken | €144,809 |
| 68 | Gelsenkirchen | €134,362 |
| 69 | Wuppertal | €131,087 |
| 70 | Siegen | €130,769 |
| 71 | Magdeburg | €129,693 |
| 72 | Bremerhaven | €124,584 |
More on Wuppertal: 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.