Urban area over the long-term in Germany
Germany: Urban area over the long-term was 27,052 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
27,052 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
5th
of 202 countries
All-time high
27,052 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
88.98 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Germany, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area over the long-term in Germany stood at 27,052 km² per grid cell. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Germany peaked at 27,052 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 88.98 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Germany ranks 5th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Germany, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 88.98 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 152.54 km² per grid cell | +71.4% |
| 1200 | 343.21 km² per grid cell | +125.0% |
| 1300 | 772.23 km² per grid cell | +125.0% |
| 1400 | 836.59 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1500 | 855.72 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1600 | 1,183 km² per grid cell | +38.2% |
| 1700 | 1,161 km² per grid cell | -1.9% |
| 1710 | 1,310 km² per grid cell | +12.9% |
| 1720 | 1,472 km² per grid cell | +12.4% |
| 1730 | 1,647 km² per grid cell | +11.9% |
| 1740 | 1,836 km² per grid cell | +11.5% |
| 1750 | 2,039 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1760 | 2,260 km² per grid cell | +10.8% |
| 1770 | 2,498 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1780 | 2,753 km² per grid cell | +10.2% |
| 1790 | 3,026 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1800 | 3,316 km² per grid cell | +9.6% |
| 1810 | 3,619 km² per grid cell | +9.2% |
| 1820 | 3,810 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1830 | 4,286 km² per grid cell | +12.5% |
| 1840 | 4,669 km² per grid cell | +8.9% |
| 1850 | 4,840 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1860 | 4,840 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 4,821 km² per grid cell | -0.4% |
| 1880 | 4,796 km² per grid cell | -0.5% |
| 1890 | 4,771 km² per grid cell | -0.5% |
| 1900 | 5,726 km² per grid cell | +20.0% |
| 1910 | 7,193 km² per grid cell | +25.6% |
| 1920 | 7,797 km² per grid cell | +8.4% |
| 1930 | 9,608 km² per grid cell | +23.2% |
| 1940 | 12,596 km² per grid cell | +31.1% |
| 1950 | 15,762 km² per grid cell | +25.1% |
| 1951 | 15,928 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 16,112 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 16,303 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 16,500 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 16,703 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1956 | 16,912 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 17,128 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1958 | 17,352 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 17,588 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 17,837 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1961 | 18,092 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1962 | 18,299 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 18,510 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 18,718 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 18,921 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 19,116 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 19,302 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 19,476 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 19,635 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 19,776 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 19,904 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 20,014 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 20,111 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 20,195 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 20,272 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 20,345 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 20,415 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 20,477 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 20,532 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 20,579 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 20,630 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 20,665 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 20,673 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 20,662 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 20,659 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 20,734 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 20,752 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 21,133 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 21,301 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 21,525 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 21,772 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 22,006 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 22,220 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 22,404 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 22,556 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 22,680 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 22,775 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 22,850 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 22,929 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 23,031 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 23,152 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 23,275 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 23,398 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 23,526 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 23,652 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 23,753 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 23,854 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 23,958 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 24,062 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 24,165 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 24,358 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 24,554 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 24,748 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 24,942 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 25,189 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 25,384 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 25,579 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 25,776 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 25,972 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 26,168 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 26,335 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 26,502 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 26,718 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 26,885 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 27,052 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 27,052 km² per grid cell is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 26.9× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Germany's 27,052 km² per grid cell is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,372 km² per grid cell, 19.7× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 | +125.0% | 152.54 km² per grid cell | 343.21 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +125.0% | 343.21 km² per grid cell | 772.23 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +71.4% | 88.98 km² per grid cell | 152.54 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +38.2% | 855.72 km² per grid cell | 1,183 km² per grid cell |
| 1940 | +31.1% | 9,608 km² per grid cell | 12,596 km² per grid cell |
| 1910 | +25.6% | 5,726 km² per grid cell | 7,193 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 88.98 km² per grid cell | 88.98 km² per grid cell | 88.98 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 152.54 km² per grid cell | 152.54 km² per grid cell | 152.54 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 343.21 km² per grid cell | 343.21 km² per grid cell | 343.21 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 772.23 km² per grid cell | 772.23 km² per grid cell | 772.23 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 836.59 km² per grid cell | 836.59 km² per grid cell | 836.59 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 855.72 km² per grid cell | 855.72 km² per grid cell | 855.72 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 1,183 km² per grid cell | 1,183 km² per grid cell | 1,183 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 1,161 km² per grid cell | 1,161 km² per grid cell | 1,161 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 1,310 km² per grid cell | 1,310 km² per grid cell | 1,310 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 1,472 km² per grid cell | 1,472 km² per grid cell | 1,472 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 1,647 km² per grid cell | 1,647 km² per grid cell | 1,647 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 1,836 km² per grid cell | 1,836 km² per grid cell | 1,836 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 2,039 km² per grid cell | 2,039 km² per grid cell | 2,039 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 2,260 km² per grid cell | 2,260 km² per grid cell | 2,260 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 2,498 km² per grid cell | 2,498 km² per grid cell | 2,498 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 2,753 km² per grid cell | 2,753 km² per grid cell | 2,753 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 3,026 km² per grid cell | 3,026 km² per grid cell | 3,026 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 3,316 km² per grid cell | 3,316 km² per grid cell | 3,316 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 3,619 km² per grid cell | 3,619 km² per grid cell | 3,619 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 3,810 km² per grid cell | 3,810 km² per grid cell | 3,810 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 4,286 km² per grid cell | 4,286 km² per grid cell | 4,286 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 4,669 km² per grid cell | 4,669 km² per grid cell | 4,669 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 4,840 km² per grid cell | 4,840 km² per grid cell | 4,840 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 4,840 km² per grid cell | 4,840 km² per grid cell | 4,840 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 4,821 km² per grid cell | 4,821 km² per grid cell | 4,821 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 4,796 km² per grid cell | 4,796 km² per grid cell | 4,796 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 4,771 km² per grid cell | 4,771 km² per grid cell | 4,771 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 5,726 km² per grid cell | 5,726 km² per grid cell | 5,726 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 7,193 km² per grid cell | 7,193 km² per grid cell | 7,193 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 7,797 km² per grid cell | 7,797 km² per grid cell | 7,797 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 9,608 km² per grid cell | 9,608 km² per grid cell | 9,608 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 12,596 km² per grid cell | 12,596 km² per grid cell | 12,596 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 16,629 km² per grid cell | 15,762 km² per grid cell | 17,588 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 18,791 km² per grid cell | 17,837 km² per grid cell | 19,635 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 20,204 km² per grid cell | 19,776 km² per grid cell | 20,532 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 20,779 km² per grid cell | 20,579 km² per grid cell | 21,301 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 22,372 km² per grid cell | 21,525 km² per grid cell | 22,929 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 23,566 km² per grid cell | 23,031 km² per grid cell | 24,062 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 25,067 km² per grid cell | 24,165 km² per grid cell | 25,972 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 26,610 km² per grid cell | 26,168 km² per grid cell | 27,052 km² per grid cell | 6 |
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 urban area over the long-term in Germany?
- Urban area over the long-term in Germany was 27,052 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 27,052 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 88.98 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Germany rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Germany ranks 5th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.