Poverty and living standards in Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
At 23.7% in 2023, the share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in the city of Gelsenkirchen ranked the highest of 400 German districts (district median 6.5%). In 2019 the figure was 24.1%.
How high is child poverty in Gelsenkirchen?
The number of children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support in the city of Gelsenkirchen was 36.7 in 2023, the highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 10.2. In 2019 the figure was 40.0.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Gelsenkirchen?
The share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age in the city of Gelsenkirchen was 6.2% in 2023, 28th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 2.4%. In 2019 the figure was 5.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Gelsenkirchen?
In 2022, the city of Gelsenkirchen had 20.7 households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld), compared with 14.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 70th highest of 400 districts. That is up from 15.5 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 Gelsenkirchen?
The share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month in the city of Gelsenkirchen was 31.4% in 2023, 8th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 23.1%. That is down from 36.7% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Gelsenkirchen?
In 2023, the city of Gelsenkirchen recorded a share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) of 16.6%, compared with 7.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 3rd highest of 400 districts. It was 18.0% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Gelsenkirchen?
The number of personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults in the city of Gelsenkirchen was 1.99 in 2023, 18th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 0.81. In 2019 the figure was 1.89.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Gelsenkirchen?
The asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) in the city of Gelsenkirchen was about €7 in 2024, 81st lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at about €9. That is up from about €6 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Gelsenkirchen?
In 2022, the city of Gelsenkirchen had 8,635 recorded crimes per 100,000 residents, compared with 5,341 in the median German district, which ranks it 55th highest of 400 districts. It was 8,530 in 2018.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Gelsenkirchen?
In 2023, the city of Gelsenkirchen recorded a share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support of 11.3%, compared with 14.9% in the median German district, which ranks it 2nd lowest of 400 districts. That is up from 10.8% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) (2023)
Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 1 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)
Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 1 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)
Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 28 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Osnabrück, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.5% |
| 26 | Baden-Baden, Stadtkreis | 6.2% |
| 27 | Koblenz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.2% |
| 28 | Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.2% |
| 29 | Delmenhorst, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.2% |
| 30 | Augsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.2% |
| 31 | Trier, Kreisfreie Stadt | 6.1% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) (2024)
Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 328 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Wiedervermietungsmieten inserierter Wohnungen (Angebotsmieten)
| Rank | Area | Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) |
|---|---|---|
| 325 | Wesermarsch | about €7 |
| 326 | Bremerhaven, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €7 |
| 327 | Remscheid, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €7 |
| 328 | Gelsenkirchen, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €7 |
| 329 | Recklinghausen | about €7 |
| 330 | Höxter | about €7 |
| 331 | Hagen, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €7 |
More on Gelsenkirchen, 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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