Poverty and living standards in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: official figures
Disposable household income was 25,100 PPS per person in 2023; 8th highest of 16 states in Germany.
How many people in North Rhine-Westphalia are at risk of poverty?
The share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion was 24.0% in 2025, against 21.2% for Germany; 4th highest of 16 states in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in North Rhine-Westphalia?
17.8% of people in North Rhine-Westphalia were at risk of poverty in 2024, measured against the median income of North Rhine-Westphalia itself, 4th highest of 16 Länder; the rate was 17.0% in 2019.
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyHow much of their income do people in North Rhine-Westphalia spend on rent?
Tenant households in North Rhine-Westphalia spent 29.1% of their net income on rent excluding heating in 2022 (Germany: 27.9%), 6th highest of 16 Länder.
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyWhat is the home ownership rate in North Rhine-Westphalia?
38.5% of occupied homes in North Rhine-Westphalia were lived in by their owners in 2022, 6th lowest of 16 Länder (Germany: 41.8%).
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in North Rhine-Westphalia?
Police in North Rhine-Westphalia recorded 7,524 crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 5th highest of 16 Länder (Germany: 6,591).
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in North Rhine-Westphalia?
17.6% of people lived below the poverty line (60% of national median income after social transfers) in 2025 (Germany: 16.1%); 5th highest of 16 states in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in North Rhine-Westphalia cannot afford basic necessities?
In 2025, 7.0% of residents were severely materially and socially deprived (unable to afford 7 or more of 13 everyday necessities) (Germany: 5.6%); 4th highest of 16 states in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many households in North Rhine-Westphalia have nobody in work?
Very low work intensity affected 12.1% of people under 65 in 2025 (households where working-age adults worked under 20% of the time they could) (Germany: 10.3%); 6th highest of 16 states in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average income in North Rhine-Westphalia?
After taxes and benefits, households had €27,300 per person to spend or save in 2023 (Germany: €28,200; EU: €21,000); 7th highest of 16 states in Germany. In 2013 it was €19,900.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in North Rhine-Westphalia use the internet?
94.0% of people used the internet at least once a week in 2025 (Germany: 93.6%); 5th highest of 16 states in Germany. In 2015 it was 84.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 91% of households had broadband in 2021. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- Each resident of North Rhine-Westphalia had 54.8 square metres of living space on average in 2022, against 55.4 m² nationally. Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
- The Gini coefficient of income inequality in North Rhine-Westphalia was 30.7 in 2025 (Germany: 30.1), 4th most unequal of 16 Länder. Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
- 16.3 people per 100,000 residents of North Rhine-Westphalia were held in pre-trial detention in 2025, against 17.5 nationally. Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
How North Rhine-Westphalia compares with other states
At-risk-of-poverty rate (60% of the Land median income) (2024)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 4 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | At-risk-of-poverty rate (60% of the Land median income) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bremen | 19.7% |
| 2 | Hamburg | 19.5% |
| 3 | Berlin | 19.1% |
| 4 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 17.8% |
| 5 | Saarland | 17.6% |
| 6 | Schleswig-Holstein | 17.3% |
| 7 | Hesse | 17.2% |
Rent as a share of tenant household net income (2022)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 6 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Rent as a share of tenant household net income |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Schleswig-Holstein | 30.2% |
| 4 | Saarland | 30.0% |
| 5 | Hesse | 29.6% |
| 6 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 29.1% |
| 7 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 28.6% |
| 8 | Baden-Württemberg | 28.0% |
| 9 | Bavaria | 28.0% |
Recorded crimes per 100,000 residents (2025)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 5 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Recorded crimes per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Bremen | 13,393 |
| 3 | Hamburg | 11,468 |
| 4 | Saxony-Anhalt | 8,090 |
| 5 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 7,524 |
| 6 | Thuringia | 6,912 |
| 7 | Saxony | 6,656 |
| 8 | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 6,603 |
Owner-occupied share of homes (2022)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 11 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Owner-occupied share of homes |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Saxony-Anhalt | 42.3% |
| 9 | Hesse | 42.2% |
| 10 | Thuringia | 42.2% |
| 11 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 38.5% |
| 12 | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 37.8% |
| 13 | Saxony | 34.5% |
| 14 | Bremen | 32.2% |
At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) (2025)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 5 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Saxony-Anhalt | 21.3% |
| 3 | Hamburg | 18.9% |
| 4 | Berlin | 18.7% |
| 5 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 17.6% |
| 6 | Lower Saxony | 17.4% |
| 7 | Thuringia | 17.4% |
| 8 | Hesse | 17.3% |
Severe material and social deprivation rate (2025)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 4 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Severe material and social deprivation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bremen | 10.9% |
| 2 | Thuringia | 8.3% |
| 3 | Saarland | 7.3% |
| 4 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 7.0% |
| 5 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 6.7% |
| 6 | Lower Saxony | 6.5% |
| 7 | Berlin | 5.6% |
People in households with very low work intensity (2025)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 6 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in households with very low work intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Saxony-Anhalt | 13.0% |
| 4 | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 12.9% |
| 5 | Lower Saxony | 12.5% |
| 6 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 12.1% |
| 7 | Schleswig-Holstein | 11.0% |
| 8 | Thuringia | 11.0% |
| 9 | Hamburg | 10.6% |
Disposable household income per person (euros) (2023)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 7 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Disposable household income per person (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Hesse | €28,900 |
| 5 | Schleswig-Holstein | €28,800 |
| 6 | Rhineland-Palatinate | €27,600 |
| 7 | North Rhine-Westphalia | €27,300 |
| 8 | Lower Saxony | €27,300 |
| 9 | Berlin | €26,400 |
| 10 | Brandenburg | €26,000 |
People who use the internet regularly (2025)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 5 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People who use the internet regularly |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Baden-Württemberg | 95.2% |
| 3 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 95.1% |
| 4 | Lower Saxony | 94.6% |
| 5 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 94.0% |
| 6 | Schleswig-Holstein | 93.9% |
| 7 | Hesse | 93.7% |
| 8 | Saxony | 93.4% |
More on North Rhine-Westphalia: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Disposable household income per person (PPS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd6019768e9f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_peps11n: At risk of poverty or social exclusion, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 94dcf245d20e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_broad_h: Households with broadband, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b02c9a1ef222…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_iuse_i: Individuals regularly using the internet by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fb4ff8800853…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_li41: At-risk-of-poverty rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27849ad61b9a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_mdsd18: Severe material and social deprivation rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62e6e6fba571…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_lvhl21n: People living in households with very low work intensity by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8b5e993ae943…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Income of households by NUTS 2 region (euros per inhabitant), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7441dafca51…)
- 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…)
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