Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Germany
Germany: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 5.8% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population who live in the largest city 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 urban population who live in the largest city in Germany stood at 5.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Germany peaked at 6.3% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 1980.
Germany ranks 176th of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.2% | 6.0% | 6.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 5.8% | 5.7% | 5.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More population data for Germany
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.11 million people (2100)
- Population density 202.93 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.36 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 2.75 million people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.36 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.36 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate -0.4% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.44 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Germany?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Germany was 5.8% 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 urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 6.3% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 1980.
- How does Germany rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Germany ranks 176th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.