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.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11.6% | — |
| 1955 | 11.5% | -0.2% |
| 1960 | 11.8% | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 11.6% | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 11.6% | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 11.3% | -3.0% |
| 1980 | 11.2% | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 10.9% | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 11.2% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 11.2% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 10.8% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 11.0% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 11.1% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 12.4% | +11.8% |
| 2020 | 13.0% | +4.5% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 13.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 15.3%, 85% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Germany's 13.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.6%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
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.