Poverty and living standards in Soest (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): official figures
At 7.2% in 2023, the share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in Soest ranked 174th highest of 400 German districts (district median 6.5%). That is up from 7.0% in 2019.
How high is child poverty in Soest?
At 10.8 in 2023, the number of children under 15 per 100 living in households on basic income support in Soest ranked 178th highest of 400 German districts (district median 10.2). In 2019 the figure was 11.2.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many pensioners need basic income support in Soest?
At 2.7% in 2023, the share of people aged 65 and over receiving basic income support in old age in Soest ranked 164th highest of 400 German districts (district median 2.4%). In 2019 the figure was 2.4%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many households get Wohngeld in Soest?
In 2022, Soest had 21.0 households per 1,000 receiving housing benefit (Wohngeld), compared with 14.7 in the median German district, which ranks it 63rd highest of 400 districts. That is up from 16.4 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 Soest?
In 2023, Soest recorded a share of households with a net income below €1,500 a month of 21.1%, compared with 23.1% in the median German district, which ranks it 132nd lowest of 400 districts. That is down from 26.3% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people are in debt in Soest?
In 2023, Soest recorded a share of adults who are over-indebted (private debtors) of 7.7%, compared with 7.5% in the median German district, which ranks it 181st highest of 400 districts. It was 10.1% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many personal bankruptcies are there in Soest?
In 2023, Soest had 1.24 personal insolvency cases per 1,000 adults, compared with 0.81 in the median German district, which ranks it 105th highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 1.29.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow much is rent in Soest?
The asking rent per square metre for advertised flats (rounded to the euro) in Soest was about €8 in 2024, 156th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at about €9. It was 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 Soest?
In 2022, Soest had 6,200 recorded crimes per 100,000 residents, compared with 5,341 in the median German district, which ranks it 143rd highest of 400 districts. That is up from 5,357 in 2018.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many single parents receive Bürgergeld in Soest?
At 14.5% in 2023, the share of single parents among working-age people on basic income support in Soest ranked 163rd lowest of 400 German districts (district median 14.9%). It was 14.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow Soest compares with other districts in Germany
Residents under 65 on basic income support (%) (2023)
Soest ranks 174 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 171 | Heinsberg | 7.2% |
| 172 | Augsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 7.2% |
| 173 | Ludwigslust-Parchim | 7.2% |
| 174 | Soest | 7.2% |
| 175 | Zwickau | 7.2% |
| 176 | Saarpfalz-Kreis | 7.1% |
| 177 | Odenwaldkreis | 7.1% |
Children under 15 on basic income support per 100 (2023)
Soest ranks 178 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 175 | Plön | 11.0 |
| 176 | Darmstadt-Dieburg | 10.9 |
| 177 | Straubing, Kreisfreie Stadt | 10.9 |
| 178 | Soest | 10.8 |
| 179 | Speyer, Kreisfreie Stadt | 10.8 |
| 180 | Kassel, Landkreis | 10.7 |
| 181 | Ulm, Stadtkreis | 10.7 |
Over-65s on basic income support in old age (%) (2023)
Soest ranks 164 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 161 | Wesel | 2.8% |
| 162 | Viersen | 2.8% |
| 163 | Wolfenbüttel | 2.7% |
| 164 | Soest | 2.7% |
| 165 | Segeberg | 2.7% |
| 166 | Bergstraße | 2.7% |
| 167 | Magdeburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 2.7% |
Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) (2024)
Soest ranks 286 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Wiedervermietungsmieten inserierter Wohnungen (Angebotsmieten)
| Rank | Area | Asking rent for advertised flats (€ per m², rounded) |
|---|---|---|
| 283 | Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis | about €8 |
| 284 | Olpe | about €8 |
| 285 | Siegen-Wittgenstein | about €8 |
| 286 | Soest | about €8 |
| 287 | Unna | about €8 |
| 288 | Vogelsbergkreis | about €8 |
| 289 | Kassel, Landkreis | about €8 |
More on Soest: 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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