Poverty and living standards in Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
In 2023, the city of Köln recorded a share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) of 13.5%, compared with 6.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 31st highest of 400 districts. It was 12.3% in 2019.
How high is child poverty in Köln?
In 2023, the city of Köln had 21.9 children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support, compared with 10.2 in the median German district, which ranks it 23rd highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 21.1.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Köln?
At 8.8% in 2023, the share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age in the city of Köln ranked 6th highest of 400 German districts (district median 2.4%). It was 7.4% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Köln?
In 2022, the city of Köln had 15.6 households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld), compared with 14.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 182nd highest of 400 districts. It was 14.1 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 Köln?
At 27.0% in 2023, the share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month in the city of Köln ranked 102nd highest of 400 German districts (district median 23.1%). In 2019 the figure was 32.7%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Köln?
The share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) in the city of Köln was 9.5% in 2023, 78th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 7.5%. In 2019 the figure was 11.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Köln?
In 2023, the city of Köln had 1.38 personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults, compared with 0.81 in the median German district, which ranks it 76th highest of 400 districts. That is up from 1.01 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Köln?
The asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) in the city of Köln was about €14 in 2024, 11th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at about €9. It was about €11 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Köln?
In 2022, the city of Köln had 12,481 recorded crimes per 100,000 residents, compared with 5,341 in the median German district, which ranks it 11th highest of 400 districts. That is up from 11,546 in 2018.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Köln?
At 12.5% in 2023, the share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in the city of Köln ranked 16th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 14.9%). It was also 12.5% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt compares with other districts in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) (2023)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 31 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Emden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.7% |
| 29 | Dessau-Roßlau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.7% |
| 30 | Frankfurt (Oder), Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.6% |
| 31 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.5% |
| 32 | Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.5% |
| 33 | Neumünster, Kreisfreie Stadt | 13.4% |
| 34 | Uckermark | 13.1% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 (2023)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 23 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 25 | Wiesbaden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.6 |
| 26 | Cottbus, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.6 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) (2023)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 6 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Hamburg | 9.2% |
| 4 | Kassel, Kreisfreie Stadt | 9.1% |
| 5 | Düsseldorf, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.9% |
| 6 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.8% |
| 7 | Wiesbaden, Kreisfreie Stadt | 8.0% |
| 8 | Nürnberg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.9% |
| 9 | Bremen, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.4% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) (2024)
Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ranks 12 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Wiedervermietungsmieten inserierter Wohnungen (Angebotsmieten)
| Rank | Area | Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dachau | about €15 |
| 10 | Ebersberg | about €15 |
| 11 | Hamburg | about €14 |
| 12 | Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €14 |
| 13 | Darmstadt, Kreisfreie Stadt | about €14 |
| 14 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | about €14 |
| 15 | Freiburg im Breisgau, Stadtkreis | about €14 |
More on Köln, 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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