Exploring The Population Of Cologne, France's Gem

Cologne, or Köln in German, is Germany's fourth-largest city and the largest in the Rhineland. It is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and has nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million in the Cologne Bonn urban region. Cologne is situated about 21 miles (34 km) northwest of Bonn and 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Düsseldorf. It is known for its medieval Cologne Cathedral, which is the city's most famous landmark and the tallest cathedral in the world. The city has a rich history dating back to its founding by the Romans in 38 BCE and has been a significant cultural, economic, and religious centre for centuries.

Cologne's population in 2024

Cologne, Germany, is estimated to have a population of 1,149,010 in 2024. The city is the fourth-largest in Germany and the largest in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Rhineland region. Cologne is part of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, which is the largest in Germany and one of the most populous in Europe, with over 3.5 million people.

Cologne's population has grown by 5,290 in the last year, representing a 0.46% annual change. The city covers an area of over 156 square miles (405 square kilometres), with 85 districts divided into nine city areas. It has a population density of 2,700 people per square kilometre.

The population of Cologne is slightly skewed towards women, with 1,046 females for every 1,000 males. The city is also home to a significant migrant population, with over 36% of its total population having a migrant background. The largest migrant groups are from Turkey, Italy, and Poland.

Cologne has a long history dating back to its founding by the Romans in 38 BCE. It became an important trade centre, benefiting from its location on the Rhine River and major east-west trade routes. The city was a member of the Hanseatic League, a medieval trade alliance, and later became a Free Imperial City. Despite periods of decline and destruction during World War II, Cologne has generally seen population growth over time and is expected to continue attracting residents from around the world.

Population growth and decline

Cologne, Germany, is the country's fourth-largest city and the largest in the Rhineland. It is also the largest city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. As of 2021, the population of the city of Cologne was estimated to be 1,073,096, while the wider Cologne/Bonn Region has around 3 million inhabitants.

Population Growth

Cologne's population has grown steadily over the centuries, with a few notable periods of decline. As early as 1430, the population had already reached a substantial number, with a total of 40,000 residents. By 1840, this had grown to over 75,000, and just 40 years later, the population had doubled to over 144,000.

The population of Cologne continued to grow in the early 20th century, reaching 700,000 by World War I. By 1939, the population had risen to 772,221. However, during World War II, the city was heavily bombed, and by the end of the war, the population had been reduced by 95%, mainly due to evacuations. By the end of 1945, the population had recovered to around 500,000.

In the post-war years, the population continued to grow, reaching pre-war numbers again by 1959. In the 1970s, the population exceeded 1 million for the first time, and by the 1980s and 1990s, the city's economy was booming, particularly in the media sector. This growth has continued in recent years, with the population growing at a rate of 1.9% in 2016 compared to the previous year.

Population Decline

The population of Cologne has experienced several periods of decline, mainly due to external factors such as war and occupation. Between the 1930s and 1940s, and again between the 1940s and 1950s, the population declined due to the impact of World War II and its aftermath. There was also a drop in population during the late 1970s through to the 1990s.

During World War II, Cologne was heavily bombed by Allied forces, with 262 air raids causing approximately 20,000 civilian casualties. The bombing destroyed 61% of the city's built-up area, including 91 out of 150 churches. The population decline during this period was also due to a massive evacuation of the city, with many residents fleeing to more rural areas.

Between 1918 and 1926, following World War I, Cologne was occupied by British forces. During this period, the population declined as many residents left the city. A similar situation occurred between 1794 and 1815, when the city was occupied by French forces, and again between 1815 and 1890, when Cologne was part of Prussia.

Population demographics

Cologne, Germany, is the fourth-largest city in the country and the largest in the Rhineland. It is also the largest city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Cologne's population as of 2021 is estimated to be 1,073,096, with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million in the Cologne-Bonn urban region.

Cologne has a total area of over 156 square miles (405 square kilometres), with 85 districts divided into nine city areas. The city's density is 2,700 people per square kilometre, with a significant proportion of its area consisting of parkland, woods, lakes, sports facilities, and open spaces.

The population of Cologne is slightly skewed towards women, with 1,046 females for every 1,000 males. The city has a diverse migrant population, with over 36% of its total population having a migrant background. The largest migrant groups are from Turkey, Italy, Poland, Greece, Morocco, Algeria, and Iran.

Cologne has a rich religious history, and as of 2011, 35.5% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, the largest religious body, and 15.5% to the Evangelical Church. Cologne is also home to one of the oldest and largest Jewish communities in Germany, with 0.3% of the population being Jewish as of 2011. The city also has a significant Muslim population, with about 120,000 Muslims living in Cologne as of 2007, mostly of Turkish origin.

Cologne has a long educational history, with the University of Cologne, founded in 1388, being one of the oldest universities in Europe. The city is also home to several other colleges and universities, including the German Sport University Cologne and the Cologne University of Music and Dance.

Cologne has a strong media presence, with several radio and television stations headquartered in the city. It is also known for its thriving arts and culture scene, with more than 30 museums and hundreds of art galleries.

The language spoken in Cologne is a German dialect called Colognian or Kölsch, which is also the name of the local beer.

Cologne's location and its impact on growth

Cologne's location on the west bank of the Rhine River, downstream from where the river enters the North German Plain, has been key to its growth. The city's location at the intersection of major trade routes between east and west was the basis of its economic importance.

Cologne was founded in 38 BCE by the Germanic Ubii tribe, who founded Oppidum Ubiorum. In 50 CE, the Romans founded Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Cologne) on the river Rhine, and the city became the provincial capital of Germania Inferior in 85 CE. It was also known as Augusta Ubiorum.

Cologne's location on the Rhine, at the intersection of east and west trade routes, was the basis of the city's growth. By the mid-10th century, merchants in the town were already known for their prosperity and luxurious standard of living due to the availability of trade opportunities. The intersection of these trade routes was the basis of Cologne's growth.

The city's location on the Rhine also made it a key inland port of Europe. In the Middle Ages, the city flourished as it was located on one of the most important trade routes between east and western Europe, including the Brabant Road, Via Regia, and Publica.

Cologne was a member of the Hanseatic League, an alliance of trading guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe. The League was a business alliance of trading cities and their guilds that flourished from the 13th to the 15th century. The chief cities were Cologne on the Rhine, Hamburg and Bremen on the North Sea, and Lübeck on the Baltic.

Cologne's central location on the Rhine placed it at the intersection of the major trade routes between east and west and was the basis of Cologne's growth. The economic structures of medieval and early modern Cologne were based on the city's major harbour, its location as a transport hub, and its entrepreneurial merchants who built ties with merchants in other Hanseatic cities.

Cologne's population in relation to other German cities

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany by population, after Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. Cologne's population is estimated to be 1,149,010 in 2024, with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million in the Cologne-Bonn urban region.

Cologne is the largest city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which is one of the country's 16 federally designated states. The state of Bavaria, in comparison, encompasses over 300 cities and towns, while Hamburg and Berlin are each made up of just one city.

As of 2021, Germany has 80 cities with a population of more than 100,000, and almost 100 cities with over 1 million residents. The country's three most populous cities are Berlin, with 3.4 million people, followed by Hamburg and Munich. Additionally, nine German cities have a population of more than 500,000 people.

Cologne's urban area covers over 156 square miles (405 square kilometers), resulting in a population density of about 2,700 people per square kilometer. The city is part of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, the second-biggest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Union and one of the most populous in Europe, with over 3.5 million people.

Cologne's population has experienced both growth and decline over time. As early as 1430, the population had reached 40,000 residents. By 1840, this number had grown to over 75,000, and by 1880, it had doubled to over 144,000. However, there were periods of decline between the 1930s and 1950s, as well as in the late 1970s through the 1990s. In recent years, the city has seen steady growth, and based on the positive trend since 2000, the population is expected to continue increasing.

Frequently asked questions