Social benefits in North Rhine-Westphalia affect one in nine residents

Approximately 10.6 percent of the population in North Rhine-Westphalia relied on state social benefits at the end of last year. According to the State Statistical Office, roughly 1.9 million people received assistance for basic subsistence, marking a decrease of 84,000 individuals compared to the previous year.

Bürgergeld (citizen's benefit) was the most common form of support, with nearly 1.5 million recipients. Other significant categories included basic security for the elderly or those with reduced earning capacity, which supported about 300,000 people, and approximately 71,000 individuals receiving benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.

There are significant regional disparities within the state. The Ruhr area shows the highest dependency rates, led by Gelsenkirchen, where more than 21 percent of residents—roughly one in five—receive social benefits. Other cities such as Dortmund, Essen, and Gladbeck reported rates exceeding 17 percent. In contrast, the lowest rates were recorded in several municipalities within the Borken and Euskirchen districts, where the figures were approximately 3 percent.