Emsland: population, economy and official figures
Emsland is a district (Kreis) in Lower Saxony, Germany. Emsland had 334,539 residents on 1 January 2025, 4.2% of Lower Saxony and 0.40% of Germany; 43rd largest of 400 districts in Germany.
334,539
116.4
44.3
20.8%
2,884
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Emsland: GDP per person was 48,400 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 126% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 86th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
- Health in Emsland: At 10.8 in 2024, the number of doctors per 10,000 residents in Emsland ranked 46th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 13.1). In 2019 the figure was 11.9.
- Education in Emsland: At 8.5% in 2023, the share of school leavers without even a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) in Emsland ranked 132nd highest of 400 German districts (district median 7.0%). In 2019 the figure was 7.9%.
- Poverty and living standards in Emsland: The share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in Emsland was 4.7% in 2023, 101st lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 6.5%. It was 4.5% in 2019.
- Government budget and revenue in Emsland: At €1,519 in 2023, the tax revenue of its municipalities per resident in Emsland ranked 161st highest of 400 German districts (district median €1,446). It was €1,141 in 2019.
Is the population of Emsland growing?
That is 5.9% more people than in 2015 (315,757).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Emsland?
There were 116.4 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Emsland?
The median age was 44.3 years in 2025, against 45.5 for Germany; 318th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Emsland?
20.8% of residents were 65 or older and 15.2% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Emsland?
In 2024 there were 3,048 live births and 3,732 deaths, a natural decrease of 684.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Emsland?
It covers 2,884 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre people moving to Emsland?
The net migration rate was +3.1 per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -2.0 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 Lower Saxony
- Region Hannover 1,140,888
- Osnabrück, Landkreis 354,821
- Göttingen 328,028
- Hildesheim 267,506
- Harburg 265,864
- Braunschweig, Kreisfreie Stadt 252,962
- Diepholz 221,202
- Stade 207,700
- Cuxhaven 198,842
- Aurich 188,816
- Lüneburg, Landkreis 179,448
- Cloppenburg 177,025
- Oldenburg (Oldenburg), Kreisfreie Stadt 176,614
- Gifhorn 175,943
- Celle 172,449
- Leer 169,103
- Osnabrück, Kreisfreie Stadt 166,057
- Rotenburg (Wümme) 165,904
- Schaumburg 156,841
- Hameln-Pyrmont 150,203
- Vechta 146,539
- Grafschaft Bentheim 144,543
- Heidekreis 141,321
- Verden 138,626
- Peine 137,045
- Oldenburg, Landkreis 132,008
- Wolfsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt 129,560
- Ammerland 127,751
- Goslar 126,775
- Northeim 125,623
- Nienburg (Weser) 121,468
- Wolfenbüttel 118,290
- Osterholz 113,598
- Salzgitter, Kreisfreie Stadt 104,970
- Friesland (DE) 100,411
- Uelzen 91,638
- Helmstedt 90,227
- Wesermarsch 88,936
- Delmenhorst, Kreisfreie Stadt 81,406
- Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt 75,745
- Holzminden 65,581
- Wittmund 55,969
- Emden, Kreisfreie Stadt 49,202
- Lüchow-Dannenberg 46,502
Up a level: Lower Saxony · 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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