Health in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: official figures
Life expectancy at birth was 80.7 years in 2024 (81.2 for Germany); 10th highest of 16 states in Germany.
How many hospitals are there in North Rhine-Westphalia?
North Rhine-Westphalia had 316 hospitals in 2024: 75 publicly owned, 195 run by non-profit bodies and 46 private.
Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) · saved copyHow long is the average hospital stay in North Rhine-Westphalia?
The average hospital stay in North Rhine-Westphalia lasted 6.9 days in 2024 and beds were 71.9% occupied on average, against 7.1 days and 72.0% nationally.
Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) · saved copyHow many hospital doctors are there in North Rhine-Westphalia?
Hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia employed 49,551 doctors at the end of 2024, 275 per 100,000 residents compared with 261 across Germany.
Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) · saved copyWhat is the caesarean section rate in North Rhine-Westphalia?
34.0% of the women who gave birth in a hospital in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2024 had a caesarean section, 4th highest of 16 Länder (Germany: 33.0%).
Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) · saved copyHow many people smoke in North Rhine-Westphalia?
19.4% of people aged 15 and over in North Rhine-Westphalia smoked at least occasionally in 2025 (Germany: 19.1%), and 18.2% of adults were obese (Germany: 16.7%).
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyWhat is the death rate in North Rhine-Westphalia?
Adjusting for age, 1,056.1 people per 100,000 died in 2021 (Germany: 1,045.2; EU: 1,073.4); 7th highest of 16 states in Germany. Age-standardised rates allow fair comparison between places with older and younger populations.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of cancer in North Rhine-Westphalia?
The age-standardised cancer death rate was 247.1 per 100,000 in 2023 (Germany: 234.8; EU: 233.1); 6th highest of 16 states in Germany. In 2015 it was 264.4.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of heart disease in North Rhine-Westphalia?
The age-standardised death rate from heart attacks, strokes and other circulatory diseases was 313.6 per 100,000 in 2023 (Germany: 349.7; EU: 312.9); 3rd lowest of 16 states in Germany. In 2015 it was 394.2.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of respiratory disease in North Rhine-Westphalia?
Respiratory diseases caused 82.9 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised) (Germany: 73.3; EU: 75.2); 3rd highest of 16 states in Germany. In 2015 it was 91.7.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the suicide rate in North Rhine-Westphalia?
In 2023, 8.4 people per 100,000 took their own life (age-standardised) (Germany: 11.4; EU: 10.4); the lowest of 16 states in Germany. In 2015 it was 8.2.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die in accidents in North Rhine-Westphalia?
Accidents, injuries, violence and other external causes killed 50.4 per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised) (Germany: 51.8; EU: 49.4); 8th lowest of 16 states in Germany. In 2015 it was 31.8.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the infant mortality rate in North Rhine-Westphalia?
3.5 babies in every 1,000 born alive died before their first birthday in 2023 (Germany: 3.2; EU: 3.3); 6th highest of 16 states in Germany. In 2013 it was 3.8.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die on the roads in North Rhine-Westphalia?
There were 27 road deaths per million people in 2024, compared with 33 nationally; 5th lowest of 16 states in Germany. In 2014 it was 30.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is life expectancy for men and women in North Rhine-Westphalia?
Women in North Rhine-Westphalia could expect to live to 82.8 and men to 78.5 at 2024 death rates, a gap of 4.3 years.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow long do people live after 65 in North Rhine-Westphalia?
People who reached 65 could expect 19.3 more years of life in 2024 (Germany: 19.7).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia treated 4,261,516 inpatient cases in 2024, or 23,641 per 100,000 residents, 6th highest of 16 Länder (Germany: 21,009). Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) · saved copy
- North Rhine-Westphalia had 35.0 intensive-care hospital beds per 100,000 people in 2024 (6,303 beds), 6th highest of 16 Länder (Germany: 31.1). Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) · saved copy
- Premature mortality in North Rhine-Westphalia was 273 deaths per 100,000 men and 159 per 100,000 women under 70 in 2024, against 265 and 145 nationally; the male rate was 7th lowest of 16 Länder. Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
How North Rhine-Westphalia compares with other states
Hospital inpatient cases per 100,000 residents (2024)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 6 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Hospital inpatient cases per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Bremen | 24,869 |
| 4 | Hamburg | 24,860 |
| 5 | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 24,768 |
| 6 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 23,641 |
| 7 | Saxony-Anhalt | 23,370 |
| 8 | Saxony | 21,965 |
| 9 | Berlin | 21,602 |
Average length of hospital stay (days) (2024)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 12 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average length of hospital stay (days) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Thuringia | 7.0 |
| 10 | Saxony-Anhalt | 7.0 |
| 11 | Lower Saxony | 7.0 |
| 12 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 6.9 |
| 13 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 6.8 |
| 14 | Saarland | 6.8 |
| 15 | Bremen | 6.7 |
Intensive-care beds per 100,000 residents (2024)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 6 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Intensive-care beds per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 41.2 |
| 4 | Berlin | 38.9 |
| 5 | Saxony | 37.0 |
| 6 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 35.0 |
| 7 | Saxony-Anhalt | 32.5 |
| 8 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 30.9 |
| 9 | Thuringia | 30.6 |
Deaths under 70 per 100,000 men (2024)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 10 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths under 70 per 100,000 men |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Saarland | 295 |
| 8 | Lower Saxony | 282 |
| 9 | Berlin | 274 |
| 10 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 273 |
| 11 | Schleswig-Holstein | 272 |
| 12 | Hamburg | 261 |
| 13 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 252 |
Share of people 15+ who smoke (2025)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 8 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of people 15+ who smoke |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Saxony | 20.8% |
| 6 | Schleswig-Holstein | 20.2% |
| 7 | Berlin | 20.0% |
| 8 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 19.4% |
| 9 | Hesse | 19.2% |
| 10 | Lower Saxony | 19.1% |
| 11 | Brandenburg | 18.9% |
Share of adults with obesity (BMI over 30) (2025)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 8 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of adults with obesity (BMI over 30) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Lower Saxony | 18.7% |
| 6 | Schleswig-Holstein | 18.6% |
| 7 | Brandenburg | 18.5% |
| 8 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 18.2% |
| 9 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 18.0% |
| 10 | Thuringia | 17.6% |
| 11 | Saxony | 17.0% |
Deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised, all causes) (2021)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 7 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised, all causes) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 1,125.6 |
| 5 | Saarland | 1,123.4 |
| 6 | Brandenburg | 1,113.3 |
| 7 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 1,056.1 |
| 8 | Bremen | 1,054.3 |
| 9 | Lower Saxony | 1,040.4 |
| 10 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 1,027.7 |
Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 6 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Bremen | 253.1 |
| 4 | Schleswig-Holstein | 251.6 |
| 5 | Hamburg | 248.4 |
| 6 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 247.1 |
| 7 | Berlin | 244.6 |
| 8 | Brandenburg | 244.6 |
| 9 | Saarland | 242.8 |
Heart and circulatory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 14 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Heart and circulatory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Hesse | 363.5 |
| 11 | Bavaria | 344.9 |
| 12 | Saarland | 343.6 |
| 13 | Baden-Württemberg | 318.4 |
| 14 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 313.6 |
| 15 | Berlin | 309.5 |
| 16 | Hamburg | 285.9 |
Respiratory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 3 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Respiratory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lower Saxony | 85.9 |
| 2 | Saarland | 83.5 |
| 3 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 82.9 |
| 4 | Hamburg | 81.5 |
| 5 | Berlin | 80.5 |
| 6 | Bremen | 77.9 |
| 7 | Thuringia | 75.5 |
Suicides per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 16 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Suicides per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Baden-Württemberg | 11.5 |
| 11 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 11.3 |
| 12 | Lower Saxony | 10.4 |
| 13 | Thuringia | 10.3 |
| 14 | Brandenburg | 9.9 |
| 15 | Saarland | 9.4 |
| 16 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 8.4 |
Deaths from accidents, injury and violence per 100,000 (2023)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 9 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths from accidents, injury and violence per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Saxony-Anhalt | 52.1 |
| 7 | Baden-Württemberg | 51.7 |
| 8 | Berlin | 51.5 |
| 9 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 50.4 |
| 10 | Thuringia | 50.2 |
| 11 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 49.5 |
| 12 | Saarland | 49.2 |
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2023)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 6 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Infant deaths per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lower Saxony | 3.7 |
| 4 | Thuringia | 3.7 |
| 5 | Hamburg | 3.7 |
| 6 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 3.5 |
| 7 | Brandenburg | 3.3 |
| 8 | Hesse | 3.1 |
| 9 | Baden-Württemberg | 3.0 |
Road deaths per million people (2024)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 12 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Road deaths per million people |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 31 |
| 10 | Baden-Württemberg | 30 |
| 11 | Schleswig-Holstein | 29 |
| 12 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 27 |
| 13 | Saarland | 24 |
| 14 | Hamburg | 21 |
| 15 | Bremen | 17 |
More on North Rhine-Westphalia: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_mlifexp: Life expectancy at birth, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62800ed9bbb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tran_r_acci: Victims in road accidents by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a183ad1f888d…)
- Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis): Statistischer Bericht: Grunddaten der Krankenhäuser 2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ede95ab59dc…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_minfind: Infant mortality rates by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 60cbafea3657…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_cd_asdr2: Causes of death: standardised death rate by NUTS 2 region of residence, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 308c4b705d5d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_mlifexp: Life expectancy by age, sex and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f5a2a33406b9…)
- Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren): Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren der Länder: Tabellenband mit kompletten Zeitreihen zu allen Indikatoren (October 2026 edition), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f3f1b692389…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.