Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Germany
Germany: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 13.0% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Germany, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Germany stood at 13.0%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Germany peaked at 13.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 2000.
Germany ranks 105th of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.6% | 11.5% | 11.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 11.7% | 11.6% | 11.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.0% | 10.9% | 11.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.9% | 10.8% | 11.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.8% | 11.1% | 12.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.0% | 13.0% | 13.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.53 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 3.04 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -1.82 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.6168 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.25 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 137.8 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Germany?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Germany was 13.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 13.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 2000.
- How does Germany rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Germany ranks 105th out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.