Cologne

Cologne had 1,017,904 residents at the 2022 census. Average net rent of €9.39/m² was 37% above the state average. 24.5% of homes were owner-occupied, and the average age was 41.8.

Independent city · Code 05315 · Zensus 2022 · Updated 24 October 2026

1,017,904residentscensus, 15 May 2022

€9.39/m²net rentaverage

24.5%owner-occupiedof homes

18%green within 500 maverage

Cologne · one-kilometre grid

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.

16%

aged under 18

16%

aged 18–29

29%

aged 30–49

18%

aged 65 and over

41.8

years, average age

1.9

people per household

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

Homes.

141,567 residential buildings.

€9.39/m²

average net rent

24.5%

of homes owner-occupied

2.5%

of homes empty

50.3 m²

living space per resident

When residential buildings were built

before 19198%

1919–194914%

1950–195916%

1960–196918%

1970–19799%

1980–19898%

1990–19997%

2000–20097%

2010–20154%

2016 or later2%

Main type of heating

Central heating64%

District heating16%

Single-storey heating17%

Block heating2%

Room stoves2%

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.

262 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk, for the average resident; 18% green space within 500 metres.

Supermarkets and convenience shops39

Bakeries30

Pharmacies9

Doctors32

Dentists22

Cafés and bars184

Restaurants190

Parks11

Playgrounds15

Sports pitches19

Gyms and sports centres13

Libraries14

Day nurseries14

Bus stops39

Tram and light-rail stops24

Railway stations1

380schoolsOpenStreetMap

574nurseries and kindergartensOpenStreetMap

2,502residents per km²density

406.8km²area

Crime.

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

12,368offences per 100,000 residentsstate: 7,296

126,722recorded offences2025

49%clearance ratestate: 53%

Offence	Cases	per 100,000	state, per 100,000
Violent crime	5,527	539	298
Common assault	9,803	957	580
Robbery	1,168	114	61
Domestic burglary	2,368	231	153
All theft	52,614	5,135	2,756
Bicycle theft	6,431	628	295
Car theft	597	58	38
Theft from vehicles	7,281	711	434
Shoplifting	9,433	921	506
Pickpocketing	5,273	515	194
Fraud	15,286	1,492	946
Criminal damage	10,454	1,020	674
Street crime	32,934	3,214	1,701

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)