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Leipzig overtakes Dortmund in terms of population – now number 8 in Germany

Leipzig is now officially the eighth largest city in Germany. According to just published statistics State offices attracted the northern Saxon metropolis over half a year ago Dortmund past. As of December 31, 2018, for Dortmund 587,010 inhabitants with Main residence determined for Leipzig there were 587,857 – around 850 more. The new data have already been published on the websites of the statisticians and in the Lists of the largest cities in the Wikipedia dictionary maintained.

Five places ahead since the turn of the millennium

The LVZ had already reported in February 2018 that there were very good chances that Leipzig soon Dortmund outdated. The reason for the report was that Leipzig the Ruhr metropolis shortly before eat (after all, headquarters of the DAX companies RWE, E.ON and ThyssenKrupp) had left behind – a little sensation at the time. At the turn of the millennium, the Saxon boomtown was still in other spheres – with only 493,208 inhabitants only in 13th place. Since then, it has also increased due to its rapid growth Duisburg, Hanover and Bremen past. Now stands Leipzig in 8th place.

More people lived in on the cut-off date Germany only in Berlin (3,644,998), Hamburg (1,841,179), Munich (1,471,508), Cologne (1,085,664), Frankfurt am Main (753.056), Stuttgart (634.830) as well Dusseldorf (619.294). These seven cities all have a significantly higher population density (inhabitants per square kilometer) than Leipzig on.

With an increase of 5877 citizens (exactly one percent) last year pushed Leipzig now at number 41 of the largest cities in the European Union in front. For example, are smaller Manchester, Vilnius, Lyon or Lisbon, just a little bigger Copenhagen, Riga, Helsinki or Athens. However, they can Population figures can only be compared here to a limited extent because they each refer to the “administrative boundaries” of a municipality – this term is interpreted differently in individual EU countries.

Dresden ranks 49th within the EU

Dresden achieved an increase of 3577 people or 0.6 percent last year. With 554,649 citizens as of the reporting date, the Saxon capital was in 12th place Germany as well as rank 49 in the EU – and at the same time exactly one place in front of the Irish capital Dublin.

Both Statistical data State offices is the official population. They serve as the basis for the Federal Statistical Office and are also relevant for calculating the amount of financial subsidies to each municipality. The State offices update the figures from the last population census in 2011 by adding or subtracting births and deaths as well as influxes and outflows each year – they are the same as everyone else State offices from. However, in the past few years there have always been extreme delays due to software changes. Apparently the problems have now been resolved.

Statisticians use different methods

Because for years there have been hardly any current figures from the State offices other population statistics came into the public eye: namely, those that local authorities compile themselves. They use a different method, which leads to slightly different values. The municipalities mostly access the current data from their registration register Regulatory office back. Accordingly, lived on December 31, 2018 in Leipzig 596,517 people with Main residence, on June 30, 2019 there were 597,493. The Leipzig city administration refers to these figures from the registration register when it prophesies that the usual rush of new trainees and students in October will affect the threshold of 600,000 citizens Main residence skipped.

However: Even if it does, it would still not be the official population for Leipzig. This is – as explained – from the statistical State Office determined and is around 10,000 people lower. It is difficult to say which method is more precise. For example, when moving away, many people fail to sign out of their old place of residence.

The data from the municipal register was Dortmund as of December 31, 2018 Leipzig – with 602 566 citizens Main residence. But that’s not an official number.

From Jens Rometsch

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