Ostholstein: population, economy and official figures
Ostholstein is a district (Kreis) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Ostholstein had 201,472 residents on 1 January 2025, 6.8% of Schleswig-Holstein and 0.24% of Germany; 141st largest of 400 districts in Germany.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Ostholstein: GDP per person was 31,500 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 82% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 304th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
- Health in Ostholstein: In 2024, Ostholstein had 16.0 doctors per 10,000 residents, compared with 13.1 in the median German district, which ranks it 106th highest of 400 districts. That is up from 15.2 in 2019.
- Education in Ostholstein: At 10.9% in 2023, the share of school leavers without even a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) in Ostholstein ranked 46th highest of 400 German districts (district median 7.0%). In 2019 the figure was 11.2%.
- Poverty and living standards in Ostholstein: The share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in Ostholstein was 6.6% in 2023, 197th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 6.5%. In 2019 the figure was 7.2%.
- Government budget and revenue in Ostholstein: The tax revenue of its municipalities per resident in Ostholstein was €1,291 in 2023, 132nd lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €1,446. In 2019 the figure was €1,036.
Is the population of Ostholstein growing?
That is 1.6% more people than in 2015 (198,355).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Ostholstein?
There were 148.2 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Ostholstein?
The median age was 53 years in 2025, against 45.5 for Germany; 24th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Ostholstein?
29.0% of residents were 65 or older and 11.6% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Ostholstein?
In 2024 there were 1,193 live births and 3,173 deaths, a natural decrease of 1,980.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Ostholstein?
It covers 1,393 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre people moving to Ostholstein?
The net migration rate was +9.5 per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -9.8 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
- Nordfriesland 170,029
- Dithmarschen 133,460
- 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.