Population in the largest city in Germany

Germany: Population in the largest city was 5.8 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
5.8
World rank
176th
of 179 countries
All-time high
6.31
in 1950
All-time low
5.3
in 1980
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Population in the largest city in Germany, 1950–2020

02461950198520201950: 6.31955: 61960: 5.91965: 5.71970: 5.61975: 5.41980: 5.31985: 5.31990: 5.81995: 5.82000: 5.62005: 5.62010: 5.62015: 5.62020: 5.8

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2020, population 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, population in the largest city in Germany peaked at 6.31 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.

Population in the largest city in Germany, year by year

Annual values for Population in the largest city in Germany, 1950 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1950 6.31 —
1955 6.04 -4.3%
1960 5.9 -2.2%
1965 5.71 -3.3%
1970 5.61 -1.7%
1975 5.37 -4.3%
1980 5.3 -1.2%
1985 5.33 +0.5%
1990 5.84 +9.5%
1995 5.77 -1.1%
2000 5.64 -2.4%
2005 5.58 -0.9%
2010 5.63 +0.8%
2015 5.64 +0.3%
2020 5.8 +2.7%

Germany compared with similar countries

  • Germany's 5.8 is below the median for high income countries, which is 29.23, 20% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • Germany's 5.8 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24.13, 24% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 6.17 6.04 6.31 2
1960s 5.81 5.71 5.9 2
1970s 5.49 5.37 5.61 2
1980s 5.32 5.3 5.33 2
1990s 5.8 5.77 5.84 2
2000s 5.61 5.58 5.64 2
2010s 5.64 5.63 5.64 2
2020s 5.8 5.8 5.8 1

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 173 Malawi 6.67 compare
  2. 174 South Sudan 6.25 compare
  3. 175 Italy 6.13 compare
  4. 177 United States 5.59 compare
  5. 178 India 2.49 compare
  6. 179 China 2.32 compare

See the full ranking of 179 places →

More population data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is population in the largest city in Germany?
Population in the largest city in Germany was 5.8 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Germany?
The highest recorded value was 6.31 in 1950.
What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 5.3 in 1980.
How does Germany rank for population in the largest city?
Germany ranks 176th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
Is population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Population in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population in the largest city in Germany. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 12 November 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/population-in-the-largest-city/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
Population in the largest city
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
179 places, 2,452 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed