Poverty and living standards in Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
The share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in the city of Bochum was 14.4% in 2023, 23rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 6.5%. In 2019 the figure was 14.9%.
How high is child poverty in Bochum?
In 2023, the city of Bochum had 23.3 children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support, compared with 10.2 in the median German district, which ranks it 21st highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 26.2.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Bochum?
The share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age in the city of Bochum was 5.2% in 2023, 51st highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 2.4%. It was 4.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Bochum?
In 2022, the city of Bochum had 14.7 households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld), compared with 14.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 200th highest of 400 districts. That is up from 12.8 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 Bochum?
The share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month in the city of Bochum was 29.1% in 2023, 37th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 23.1%. In 2019 the figure was 34.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Bochum?
In 2023, the city of Bochum recorded a share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) of 11.0%, compared with 7.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 41st highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 12.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Bochum?
At 1.23 in 2023, the number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults in the city of Bochum ranked 108th highest of 400 German districts (district median 0.81). It was 0.98 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Bochum?
In 2024, the city of Bochum recorded an asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) of about €8, compared with about €9 in the median German district, which ranks it 156th lowest of 400 districts. That is up from about €7 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Bochum?
In 2022, the city of Bochum had 8,581 recorded crimes per 100,000 residents, compared with 5,341 in the median German district, which ranks it 57th highest of 400 districts. In 2018 the figure was 8,782.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Bochum?
The share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in the city of Bochum was 11.3% in 2023, 3rd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 14.9%. In 2019 the figure was 10.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) (2023)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 23 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Krefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.7% |
| 21 | Delmenhorst, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.5% |
| 22 | Schwerin, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.4% |
| 23 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.4% |
| 24 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.1% |
| 25 | Recklinghausen | 14.1% |
| 26 | Kiel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 14.0% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 (2023)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 21 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Salzgitter, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.1 |
| 19 | Kiel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 24.0 |
| 20 | Berlin | 24.0 |
| 21 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 23.3 |
| 22 | Krefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | 22.1 |
| 23 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.9 |
| 24 | Neumünster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.7 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) (2023)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 51 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Aschaffenburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.4% |
| 49 | Würzburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.3% |
| 50 | Mainz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.2% |
| 51 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.2% |
| 52 | Pirmasens, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.2% |
| 53 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.0% |
| 54 | Bayreuth, Kreisfreie Stadt | 5.0% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) (2024)
Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 282 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Wiedervermietungsmieten inserierter Wohnungen (Angebotsmieten)
| Rank | Area | Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) |
|---|---|---|
| 279 | Warendorf | about €8 |
| 280 | Herford | about €8 |
| 281 | Lippe | about €8 |
| 282 | Bochum, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €8 |
| 283 | Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis | about €8 |
| 284 | Olpe | about €8 |
| 285 | Siegen-Wittgenstein | about €8 |
More on Bochum, 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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