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Solingen

Solingen had 164,358 residents at the 2022 census. Average net rent of €6.38/m² was 7% below the state average. 36.7% of homes were owner-occupied, and the average age was 44.3.

Independent city · Code 05122 · Zensus 2022 · Updated 24 October 2026
164,358residentscensus, 15 May 2022
€6.38/m²net rentaverage
36.7%owner-occupiedof homes
28%green within 500 maverage
Solingen · one-kilometre grid
Map of Solingen: 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
13%
aged 18–29
24%
aged 30–49
22%
aged 65 and over
44.3
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.

33,076 residential buildings.

€6.38/m²
average net rent
36.7%
of homes owner-occupied
3.8%
of homes empty
51.3 m²
living space per resident

When residential buildings were built

before 191921%
1919–194912%
1950–195910%
1960–196912%
1970–19799%
1980–19897%
1990–19997%
2000–20097%
2010–20153%
2016 or later2%

Main type of heating

Central heating73%
District heating3%
Single-storey heating20%
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.

155 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk, for the average resident; 28% green space within 500 metres.

Supermarkets and convenience shops7
Bakeries9
Pharmacies7
Doctors9
Dentists7
Cafés and bars21
Restaurants18
Parks10
Playgrounds47
Sports pitches74
Gyms and sports centres11
Libraries1
Day nurseries17
Bus stops66
Tram and light-rail stops0
Railway stations2
81schoolsOpenStreetMap
122nurseries and kindergartensOpenStreetMap
1,847residents per km²density
89.0km²area

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

Crime.

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

6,535offences per 100,000 residentsstate: 7,296
10,824recorded offences2025
56%clearance ratestate: 53%
OffenceCasesper 100,000state, per 100,000
Violent crime433261298
Common assault998603580
Robbery855161
Domestic burglary15895153
All theft3,2101,9382,756
Bicycle theft15191295
Car theft382338
Theft from vehicles675408434
Shoplifting493298506
Pickpocketing283171194
Fraud1,640990946
Criminal damage1,011610674
Street crime2,2131,3361,701

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 Solingen, shared on Wikimedia Commons under free licences.

Polizei-Sprinter Maikundgebung-Solingen 2010
i
Polizei-Sprinter Maikundgebung-Solingen 2010
Photo: Gohnarch · CC BY-SA 3.0
View on Wikimedia Commons
Stolperstein Solingen Küstergasse 3 Adolf Freireich
i
Stolperstein Solingen Küstergasse 3 Adolf Freireich
Photo: Michael Kramer · CC BY-SA 3.0
View on Wikimedia Commons
Stolperstein Solingen Küstergasse 3 Frieda Freireich
i
Stolperstein Solingen Küstergasse 3 Frieda Freireich
Photo: Michael Kramer · CC BY-SA 3.0
View on Wikimedia Commons

Other districts in North Rhine-Westphalia.