Share of population living in the capital city in Germany

Germany: Share of population living in the capital city was 4.2% in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
4.2%
World rank
152nd
of 170 countries
All-time high
4.4%
in 1950
All-time low
3.8%
in 1980
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of population living in the capital city in Germany, 1950–2020

012341950198520201950: 4.4 %1955: 4.2 %1960: 4.1 %1965: 4.1 %1970: 4 %1975: 3.8 %1980: 3.8 %1985: 3.8 %1990: 4.2 %1995: 4.2 %2000: 4.1 %2005: 4 %2010: 4.1 %2015: 4.1 %2020: 4.2 %

Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Germany recorded 4.2% for share of population living in the capital city in 2020.

The figure is up 4.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Germany peaked at 4.4% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 1980.

That places Germany 152nd out of 170 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Share of population living in the capital city in Germany, year by year

Annual values for Share of population living in the capital city in Germany, 1950 to 2020.
Year % Change
1950 4.4%
1955 4.2% -4.4%
1960 4.1% -1.4%
1965 4.1% -2.2%
1970 4.0% -0.9%
1975 3.8% -4.4%
1980 3.8% -1.5%
1985 3.8% +0.1%
1990 4.2% +10.1%
1995 4.2% -0.3%
2000 4.1% -2.2%
2005 4.0% -0.8%
2010 4.1% +0.6%
2015 4.1% +0.6%
2020 4.2% +3.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 4.3% 4.2% 4.4% 2
1960s 4.1% 4.1% 4.1% 2
1970s 3.9% 3.8% 4.0% 2
1980s 3.8% 3.8% 3.8% 2
1990s 4.2% 4.2% 4.2% 2
2000s 4.1% 4.0% 4.1% 2
2010s 4.1% 4.1% 4.1% 2
2020s 4.2% 4.2% 4.2% 1

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 149 Poland 4.9% compare
  2. 150 Netherlands 4.7% compare
  3. 151 Malawi 4.3% compare
  4. 153 Turkey 4.1% compare
  5. 154 Papua New Guinea 4.0% compare
  6. 155 Italy 4.0% compare

See the full ranking of 170 places →

More population data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living in the capital city in Germany?
Share of population living in the capital city in Germany was 4.2% 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 the capital city recorded in Germany?
The highest recorded value was 4.4% in 1950.
What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 1980.
How does Germany rank for share of population living in the capital city?
Germany ranks 152nd out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Germany?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. 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 the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of population living in the capital city in Germany. Statizoid, drawing on European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-in-the-capital-city/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in the capital city
Unit
%
Source
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
170 places, 2,330 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed

Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.