Landkreis Rostock: population, economy and official figures
Landkreis Rostock is a district (Kreis) in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. Landkreis Rostock had 218,721 residents on 1 January 2025, 13.9% of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and 0.26% of Germany; 121st largest of 400 districts in Germany.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Landkreis Rostock: GDP per person was 29,800 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 78% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 337th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
- Health in Landkreis Rostock: The number of doctors per 10,000 residents in Landkreis Rostock was 13.5 in 2024, 173rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 13.1. It was 12.5 in 2019.
- Education in Landkreis Rostock: The share of school leavers without even a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) in Landkreis Rostock was 7.8% in 2023, 163rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 7.0%. That is down from 9.5% in 2019.
- Poverty and living standards in Landkreis Rostock: In 2023, Landkreis Rostock recorded a share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) of 6.9%, compared with 6.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 186th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 7.0%.
- Government budget and revenue in Landkreis Rostock: In 2023, Landkreis Rostock recorded a tax revenue of its municipalities per resident of €974, compared with €1,446 in the median German district, which ranks it 33rd lowest of 400 districts. That is up from €779 in 2019.
Is the population of Landkreis Rostock growing?
That is 3.2% more people than in 2015 (211,878).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Landkreis Rostock?
There were 64.8 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Landkreis Rostock?
The median age was 51.2 years in 2025, against 45.5 for Germany; 49th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Landkreis Rostock?
27.4% of residents were 65 or older and 13.7% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Landkreis Rostock?
In 2024 there were 1,222 live births and 3,006 deaths, a natural decrease of 1,784.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Landkreis Rostock?
It covers 3,431 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre people moving to Landkreis Rostock?
The net migration rate was +7.9 per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -8.2 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 Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Mecklenburgische Seenplatte 246,318
- Vorpommern-Greifswald 224,956
- Vorpommern-Rügen 215,203
- Ludwigslust-Parchim 208,092
- Rostock, Kreisfreie Stadt 205,307
- Nordwestmecklenburg 156,692
- Schwerin, Kreisfreie Stadt 98,308
Up a level: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania · 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.