North Rhine-Westphalia celebrates 80 years as population nears 18 million while poverty persists

The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, founded in August 1946, has seen its population rise from 11.8 million at inception to 17.986 million by the end of 2025 – a 52.3 % increase. The share of women fell from 54.5 % to 50.8 % as male mortality from the two world wars shaped the demographic balance. Births per 1,000 residents dropped from 15.5 in 1946 to 8.2 in 2025, with the highest annual total of 300.4 thousand in 1964 and a low of 143.1 thousand in 2011. Deaths rose 62 % largely due to the larger population, while the death rate per 1,000 is now 12.1, slightly above the 11.8 of 1946. Marriages peaked in 1951 with 152.1 thousand unions and have settled at about 76.9 thousand in 2025.

Despite this growth, the state faces significant poverty, especially in the Ruhr region. One in five residents is statistically poor. The Emscher‑Lippe district tops the state poverty rate at 23.2 %, followed by Duisburg and Dortmund. Gelsenkirchen records the highest city poverty at roughly 38 % and an unemployment rate of 15.8 % in January 2025, with long‑term unemployment affecting about 80 % of job‑seekers. Dortmund also shows high hardship, with over 17 % of its population receiving basic income support and a 22.1 % poverty rate.