Poverty and living standards in Essen, 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 Essen was 18.6% in 2023, 3rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 6.5%. In 2019 the figure was 19.1%.
How high is child poverty in Essen?
In 2023, the city of Essen had 30.2 children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support, compared with 10.2 in the median German district, which ranks it 3rd highest of 400 districts. It was 33.0 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 Essen?
In 2023, the city of Essen recorded a share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age of 6.8%, compared with 2.4% in the median German district, which ranks it 16th highest of 400 districts. That is up from 5.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Essen?
In 2022, the city of Essen had 17.8 households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld), compared with 14.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 133rd highest of 400 districts. It was 12.6 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 Essen?
At 28.3% in 2023, the share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month in the city of Essen ranked 61st highest of 400 German districts (district median 23.1%). That is down from 32.9% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Essen?
At 12.5% in 2023, the share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) in the city of Essen ranked 24th highest of 400 German districts (district median 7.5%). It was 14.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Essen?
At 1.53 in 2023, the number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults in the city of Essen ranked 62nd highest of 400 German districts (district median 0.81). That is up from 1.30 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Essen?
At about €9 in 2024, the asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) in the city of Essen ranked 173rd highest of 400 German districts (district median about €9). It was 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 Essen?
The number of recorded crimes per 100,000 residents in the city of Essen was 8,610 in 2022, 56th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5,341. In 2018 the figure was 8,586.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Essen?
The share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in the city of Essen was 12.9% in 2023, 29th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 14.9%. It was 12.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) (2023)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 3 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 23.7% |
| 2 | Bremerhaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.1% |
| 3 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 18.6% |
| 4 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 18.5% |
| 5 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 18.3% |
| 6 | Duisburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 18.1% |
| 7 | Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt | 18.0% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 (2023)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 36.7 |
| 2 | Bremerhaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 31.7 |
| 3 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 30.2 |
| 4 | Wilhelmshaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 29.5 |
| 5 | Dortmund, Kreisfreie Stadt | 29.3 |
| 6 | Duisburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 28.6 |
| 7 | Herne, Kreisfreie Stadt | 28.2 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) (2023)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 16 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Kaiserslautern, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.1% |
| 14 | München, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.0% |
| 15 | Darmstadt, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.9% |
| 16 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.8% |
| 17 | Flensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.7% |
| 18 | Bremerhaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.7% |
| 19 | Kiel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.7% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) (2024)
Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 184 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Wiedervermietungsmieten inserierter Wohnungen (Angebotsmieten)
| Rank | Area | Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) |
|---|---|---|
| 181 | Grafschaft Bentheim | about €9 |
| 182 | Oldenburg, Landkreis | about €9 |
| 183 | Vechta | about €9 |
| 184 | Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €9 |
| 185 | Krefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €9 |
| 186 | Mönchengladbach, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €9 |
| 187 | Viersen | about €9 |
More on Essen, 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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