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Bielefeld

Bielefeld had 329,973 residents at the 2022 census. Average net rent of €7.13/m² was 4% above the state average. 33.1% of homes were owner-occupied, and the average age was 42.5.

Independent city · Code 05711 · Zensus 2022 · Updated 24 October 2026
329,973residentscensus, 15 May 2022
€7.13/m²net rentaverage
33.1%owner-occupiedof homes
24%green within 500 maverage
Bielefeld · one-kilometre grid
Map of Bielefeld: Share of land within 500 m that is green space
0%30%+
Share of land within 500 m that is green space

Sources: Federal and State Statistical Offices of Germany, 2022 census grid results (open data, with attribution) · © GeoBasis-DE / BKG (2023), administrative areas VG250 as of 15 May 2022, dl-de/by-2-0 · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

People.

Age and households at the 2022 census, next to the figure for North Rhine-Westphalia.

17%
aged under 18
16%
aged 18–29
26%
aged 30–49
20%
aged 65 and over
42.5
years, average age
2.0
people per household

Source: Federal and State Statistical Offices of Germany, 2022 census grid results (open data, with attribution)

Homes.

61,751 residential buildings.

€7.13/m²
average net rent
33.1%
of homes owner-occupied
3.1%
of homes empty
51.9 m²
living space per resident

When residential buildings were built

before 19197%
1919–194911%
1950–195914%
1960–196914%
1970–197912%
1980–19899%
1990–19997%
2000–20097%
2010–20153%
2016 or later2%

Main type of heating

Central heating63%
District heating19%
Single-storey heating15%
Block heating1%
Room stoves1%

Net rent comes from the 2022 census (reference date 15 May 2022) and covers every rented home, including long-standing tenancies, so it is usually lower than the asking rents in new listings.

Figures for municipalities, districts and states are built up from the census 100-metre grid cells, with rents weighted by the number of homes. Vacancy and owner-occupation rates come from the one-kilometre grid, as they are mostly withheld in the 100-metre cells.

Source: Federal and State Statistical Offices of Germany, 2022 census grid results (open data, with attribution)

Everyday life.

134 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk, for the average resident; 24% green space within 500 metres.

Supermarkets and convenience shops25
Bakeries19
Pharmacies12
Doctors56
Dentists16
Cafés and bars92
Restaurants108
Parks41
Playgrounds22
Sports pitches18
Gyms and sports centres13
Libraries2
Day nurseries12
Bus stops69
Tram and light-rail stops25
Railway stations1
145schoolsOpenStreetMap
241nurseries and kindergartensOpenStreetMap
1,273residents per km²density
259.2km²area

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Within one kilometre.

Crime.

Offences recorded by the police in 2025 (Bielefeld), next to the state average.

7,957offences per 100,000 residentsstate: 7,296
26,387recorded offences2025
56%clearance ratestate: 53%
OffenceCasesper 100,000state, per 100,000
Violent crime1,523459298
Common assault1,869564580
Robbery2848661
Domestic burglary27583153
All theft9,6832,9202,756
Bicycle theft1,193360295
Car theft912738
Theft from vehicles1,243375434
Shoplifting2,604785506
Pickpocketing497150194
Fraud4,0421,219946
Criminal damage2,398723674
Street crime5,7651,7391,701

Police crime statistics count offences that became known to the police and were fully processed by them, by place of offence. The rate relates them to the resident population, so cities with many commuters, visitors and shops show higher rates. Offences against residence and asylum law and drug offences are not shown here; drug offences mostly reflect how actively the police carry out checks.

Source: PKS Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Criminal Police Office), reporting year 2025, version 1.1 (Data licence Germany – attribution 2.0)

Around here.

Photographs taken near Bielefeld, shared on Wikimedia Commons under free licences.

TAM Bielefeld
i
TAM Bielefeld
Photo: Photo: Andreas Praefcke · CC BY 3.0
View on Wikimedia Commons
Bielefeld Alter Markt TAM 2011
i
Bielefeld Alter Markt TAM 2011
Photo: Ub12vow · CC BY-SA 3.0
View on Wikimedia Commons
Leineweberbrunnen Bielefeld 1909
i
Leineweberbrunnen Bielefeld 1909
Photo: author named on the file page · Public domain
View on Wikimedia Commons

Other districts in North Rhine-Westphalia.