Dithmarschen: population, economy and official figures
Dithmarschen is a district (Kreis) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Dithmarschen had 133,460 residents on 1 January 2025, 4.5% of Schleswig-Holstein and 0.16% of Germany; 235th largest of 400 districts in Germany.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Dithmarschen: GDP per person was 40,700 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 106% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 149th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
- Health in Dithmarschen: The number of doctors per 10,000 residents in Dithmarschen was 14.6 in 2024, 130th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 13.1. It was 13.1 in 2019.
- Education in Dithmarschen: In 2023, Dithmarschen recorded a share of school leavers without even a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) of 11.5%, compared with 7.0% in the median German district, which ranks it 33rd highest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 10.1%.
- Poverty and living standards in Dithmarschen: The share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in Dithmarschen was 9.3% in 2023, 103rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 6.5%. That is down from 10.1% in 2019.
- Government budget and revenue in Dithmarschen: At €1,463 in 2023, the tax revenue of its municipalities per resident in Dithmarschen ranked 194th highest of 400 German districts (district median €1,446). It was €1,167 in 2019.
Is the population of Dithmarschen growing?
That is 0.6% more people than in 2015 (132,685).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Dithmarschen?
There were 95.5 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Dithmarschen?
The median age was 50.2 years in 2025, against 45.5 for Germany; 73rd highest of 400 districts in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Dithmarschen?
26.3% of residents were 65 or older and 12.9% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Dithmarschen?
In 2024 there were 899 live births and 1,925 deaths, a natural decrease of 1,026.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Dithmarschen?
It covers 1,428 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre people moving to Dithmarschen?
The net migration rate was +7.3 per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -7.7 per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyFigures come from Germany's own official statistics and from Eurostat's regional statistics for NUTS 3 areas. Comparisons with the EU average use purchasing power standards (PPS), which adjust for price differences.
Other districts in Schleswig-Holstein
- Pinneberg 325,223
- Segeberg 283,562
- Rendsburg-Eckernförde 278,058
- Kiel, Kreisfreie Stadt 252,668
- Stormarn 246,974
- Lübeck, Kreisfreie Stadt 216,889
- Herzogtum Lauenburg 206,235
- Schleswig-Flensburg 205,472
- Ostholstein 201,472
- Nordfriesland 170,029
- Steinburg 132,731
- Plön 130,609
- Flensburg, Kreisfreie Stadt 96,326
- Neumünster, Kreisfreie Stadt 79,809
Up a level: Schleswig-Holstein · all regions of Germany · how local power works in Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjangrp3: Population on 1 January (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4c748d3cba3a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_d3dens: Population density, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f4b59fe9d121…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment, thousand people (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 664e4e3a6dc0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Median age of the population (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bf6ade55a0d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Share of people aged 65 or over (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 17aa0d08ab9c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_fagec3: Live births (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cfda9b5f4ebd…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset reg_area3: Area, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 75302b0aafe9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_gind3: Population change: demographic balance and crude rates by NUTS 3 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7548e948e15c…)
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.