Esslingen: population, economy and official figures
Esslingen is a district (Kreis) in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Esslingen had 536,601 residents on 1 January 2025, 4.8% of Baden-Württemberg and 0.64% of Germany; 18th largest of 400 districts in Germany.
536,601
836.7
44.7
21.4%
641
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Esslingen: GDP per person was 47,200 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 123% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 88th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
- Health in Esslingen: The number of doctors per 10,000 residents in Esslingen was 11.5 in 2024, 91st lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 13.1. That is down from 12.5 in 2019.
- Education in Esslingen: At 5.1% in 2023, the share of school leavers without even a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) in Esslingen ranked 78th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 7.0%). It was 4.2% in 2019.
- Poverty and living standards in Esslingen: At 5.3% in 2023, the share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in Esslingen ranked 126th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 6.5%). In 2019 the figure was 4.5%.
- Government budget and revenue in Esslingen: The tax revenue of its municipalities per resident in Esslingen was €2,004 in 2023, 36th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €1,446. That is up from €1,517 in 2019.
Is the population of Esslingen growing?
That is 3.8% more people than in 2015 (516,779).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Esslingen?
There were 836.7 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Esslingen?
The median age was 44.7 years in 2025, against 45.5 for Germany; 296th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Esslingen?
21.4% of residents were 65 or older and 14.4% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Esslingen?
In 2024 there were 4,927 live births and 5,715 deaths, a natural decrease of 788.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Esslingen?
It covers 641 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre people moving to Esslingen?
The net migration rate was +2.5 per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -1.5 per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyFigures come from Germany's own official statistics and from Eurostat's regional statistics for NUTS 3 areas. Comparisons with the EU average use purchasing power standards (PPS), which adjust for price differences.
Other districts in Baden-Württemberg
- Stuttgart, Stadtkreis 612,663
- Rhein-Neckar-Kreis 558,561
- Ludwigsburg 535,374
- Karlsruhe, Landkreis 456,264
- Ortenaukreis 444,858
- Rems-Murr-Kreis 440,696
- Böblingen 395,167
- Heilbronn, Landkreis 353,877
- Mannheim, Stadtkreis 318,035
- Ostalbkreis 317,427
- Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis 309,050
- Reutlingen 293,483
- Konstanz 291,841
- Ravensburg 291,102
- Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald 272,558
- Göppingen 258,809
- Lörrach 238,263
- Freiburg im Breisgau, Stadtkreis 237,460
- Tübingen, Landkreis 233,546
- Rastatt 230,737
- Bodenseekreis 220,804
- Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis 214,065
- Biberach 207,415
- Alb-Donau-Kreis 202,354
- Schwäbisch Hall 200,902
- Enzkreis 199,745
- Zollernalbkreis 193,326
- Waldshut 171,579
- Emmendingen 169,787
- Calw 161,251
- Heidelberg, Stadtkreis 155,756
- Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis 145,263
- Tuttlingen 145,208
- Rottweil 140,237
- Heidenheim 135,235
- Pforzheim, Stadtkreis 134,912
- Main-Tauber-Kreis 133,169
- Sigmaringen 132,167
- Heilbronn, Stadtkreis 131,986
- Ulm, Stadtkreis 129,882
- Freudenstadt 121,958
- Hohenlohekreis 115,644
- Baden-Baden, Stadtkreis 56,881
Up a level: Baden-Württemberg · all regions of Germany · how local power works in Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjangrp3: Population on 1 January (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4c748d3cba3a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_d3dens: Population density, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f4b59fe9d121…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment, thousand people (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 664e4e3a6dc0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Median age of the population (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bf6ade55a0d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Share of people aged 65 or over (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 17aa0d08ab9c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_fagec3: Live births (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cfda9b5f4ebd…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset reg_area3: Area, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 75302b0aafe9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_gind3: Population change: demographic balance and crude rates by NUTS 3 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7548e948e15c…)
- 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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