Sonneberg: population, economy and official figures
Sonneberg is a district (Kreis) in Thuringia, Germany. Sonneberg had 54,964 residents on 1 January 2025, 2.6% of Thuringia and 0.07% of Germany; 380th largest of 400 districts in Germany.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Sonneberg: GDP per person was 27,200 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 71% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 369th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
- Health in Sonneberg: The number of doctors per 10,000 residents in Sonneberg was 13.8 in 2024, 157th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 13.1. In 2019 the figure was 13.7.
- Education in Sonneberg: At 10.9% in 2023, the share of school leavers without even a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) in Sonneberg ranked 47th highest of 400 German districts (district median 7.0%). In 2019 the figure was 10.1%.
- Poverty and living standards in Sonneberg: The share of residents under 65 living on basic income support (Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) in Sonneberg was 5.3% in 2023, 126th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 6.5%. In 2019 the figure was 4.6%.
- Government budget and revenue in Sonneberg: In 2023, Sonneberg recorded a tax revenue of its municipalities per resident of €1,002, compared with €1,446 in the median German district, which ranks it 52nd lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was €869.
Is the population of Sonneberg growing?
That is 3.2% fewer people than in 2015 (56,809).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Sonneberg?
There were 121.4 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Sonneberg?
The median age was 53.3 years in 2025, against 45.5 for Germany; 18th highest of 400 districts in Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Sonneberg?
30.3% of residents were 65 or older and 11.1% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Sonneberg?
In 2024 there were 291 live births and 943 deaths, a natural decrease of 652.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Sonneberg?
It covers 461 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre people moving to Sonneberg?
More people left than arrived in 2024: net migration was -6.2 per 1,000 residents, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -11.8 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 Thuringia
- Erfurt, Kreisfreie Stadt 218,793
- Wartburgkreis 154,957
- Gotha 135,838
- Schmalkalden-Meiningen 120,214
- Jena, Kreisfreie Stadt 109,725
- Ilm-Kreis 106,657
- Eichsfeld 103,694
- Saalfeld-Rudolstadt 100,105
- Gera, Kreisfreie Stadt 95,608
- Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis 94,613
- Greiz 93,707
- Altenburger Land 87,508
- Saale-Holzland-Kreis 83,342
- Weimarer Land 82,392
- Nordhausen 80,762
- Saale-Orla-Kreis 77,341
- Kyffhäuserkreis 71,738
- Sömmerda 67,693
- Weimar, Kreisfreie Stadt 65,954
- Hildburghausen 59,987
- Suhl, Kreisfreie Stadt 34,685
Up a level: Thuringia · 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.