Poverty and living standards in Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
In 2023, the city of Bielefeld recorded a share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) of 13.0%, compared with 6.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 38th highest of 400 districts. It was also 13.0% in 2019.
How high is child poverty in Bielefeld?
In 2023, the city of Bielefeld had 20.2 children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support, compared with 10.2 in the median German district, which ranks it 39th highest of 400 districts. That is down from 21.3 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Bielefeld?
The share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age in the city of Bielefeld was 6.0% in 2023, 33rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 2.4%. That is up from 4.5% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Bielefeld?
At 23.5 in 2022, the number of households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld) in the city of Bielefeld ranked 33rd highest of 400 German districts (district median 14.7). It was 19.5 in 2018.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households are on a low income in Bielefeld?
In 2023, the city of Bielefeld recorded a share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month of 29.4%, compared with 23.1% in the median German district, which ranks it 31st highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 33.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Bielefeld?
At 9.2% in 2023, the share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) in the city of Bielefeld ranked 92nd highest of 400 German districts (district median 7.5%). In 2019 the figure was 11.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Bielefeld?
The number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults in the city of Bielefeld was 1.20 in 2023, 116th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 0.81. That is up from 0.98 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Bielefeld?
In 2024, the city of Bielefeld recorded an asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) of about €9, compared with about €9 in the median German district, which ranks it 173rd highest of 400 districts. It was about €8 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Bielefeld?
The number of recorded crimes per 100,000 residents in the city of Bielefeld was 7,320 in 2022, 82nd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5,341. It was 6,963 in 2018.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Bielefeld?
The share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in the city of Bielefeld was 13.4% in 2023, 57th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 14.9%. In 2019 the figure was 12.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) (2023)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 38 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der erwerbsfähigen und nicht erwerbsfähigen Leistungsberechtigten nach SGB II an den unter 65-jährigen Einwohnern in %
| Rank | Area | Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Lübeck, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.1% |
| 36 | Wiesbaden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.1% |
| 37 | Stendal | 13.0% |
| 38 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.0% |
| 39 | Gera, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.0% |
| 40 | Flensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 12.9% |
| 41 | Magdeburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 12.7% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 (2023)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 39 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Nicht erwerbsfähige SGBII-Leistungsberechtigte unter 15 Jahren je 100 Einwohner unter 15 Jahren
| Rank | Area | Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Neunkirchen | 20.6 |
| 37 | Dessau-Roßlau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.6 |
| 38 | Offenbach am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.5 |
| 39 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.2 |
| 40 | Leverkusen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.0 |
| 41 | Hamburg | 19.9 |
| 42 | Region Hannover | 19.7 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) (2023)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 33 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Bevölkerung mit Grundsicherung im Alter an den Einwohnern 65 Jahre und älter in %
| Rank | Area | Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Augsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.2% |
| 31 | Trier, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 32 | Straubing, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
| 33 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.0% |
| 34 | Freiburg im Breisgau, Stadtkreis | 6.0% |
| 35 | Regionalverband Saarbrücken | 6.0% |
| 36 | Region Hannover | 6.0% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) (2024)
Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 191 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Wiedervermietungsmieten inserierter Wohnungen (Angebotsmieten)
| Rank | Area | Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) |
|---|---|---|
| 188 | Euskirchen | about €9 |
| 189 | Coesfeld | about €9 |
| 190 | Steinfurt | about €9 |
| 191 | Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €9 |
| 192 | Gütersloh | about €9 |
| 193 | Minden-Lübbecke | about €9 |
| 194 | Paderborn | about €9 |
More on Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany
Sources
- 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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