Aachen in figures 2026

Aachen is a steadily growing city. The reason for this is the lively influx of people from Germany and abroad, which not only exceeds the outflows, but also compensates for the negative balance of births and deaths. In the past ten years, or more precisely between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2025, 203,719 inflows and 194,212 outflows were recorded in the migration statistics of the population register. During this period, the cumulative migration balance was therefore plus 9,507 people, while the natural balance of births and deaths amounted to minus 3,142 people in the same period. Meanwhile, the total population of the city of Aachen grew from 254,782 people (2016) to 262,765 (2025), which represents an increase of 7,983 inhabitants. The following chart shows these two components of population development over the course of the year.

While the natural balance is consistently negative, falling from minus 42 in 2016 to minus 565 in 2025, net migration fluctuates greatly. An exceptionally high figure of plus 3,635 people in 2022 was followed by a sharp drop to minus 1,205 in 2024, before a plus of 1,481 was recorded again in 2025.

In view of the high numbers of inflows and outflows, the question arises as to whether Aachen stands out in a state comparison. Aachen's migration figures were therefore compared with those of the other independent cities in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The following three charts show the migration movements of the 22 independent cities in North Rhine-Westphalia between 2016 and 2024, based on 1,000 inhabitants in each case. Aachen is highlighted in yellow in each chart; all other independent cities appear as light gray lines in the background.

In terms of net migration, it is noticeable that Aachen does not systematically stand out from the other independent cities. Over the entire observation period, the values for Aachen are mostly in the middle range. The median for the other cities was between plus 1 and plus 7 per 1,000 inhabitants in most years.

Net migration in the city of Aachen fluctuated between minus 4.6 (2024) and plus 13.9 (2022). The year 2022 clearly stands out from the rest of the trend for all cities. 2024 is also an outlier, albeit in the opposite direction: Aachen was one of the few cities to record a clearly negative balance, while the median of the other cities remained positive at plus 4.3.

A completely different picture emerges with regard to inward migration: Here, there is a clear spread between Aachen and the other independent cities. Aachen was consistently at the top or just behind throughout the entire period. With an average of around 78 new arrivals per 1,000 inhabitants, the city is well above the median of the other independent cities (around 52 per 1,000 inhabitants). Aachen achieved by far the highest rate in 2022 with 87.9, the lowest value was reached in 2024 with 67.6.

This pattern is reflected almost symmetrically on the out-migration side. Here, too, Aachen is well above the median of the other independent cities (around 47) with an average of around 75 out-migrations per 1,000 inhabitants. However, departures were subject to significantly fewer fluctuations in the period under review. Overall, it can be seen that the fluctuations in the balance are determined by the changes in inflows.

The following three charts break down migration movements by age group. The migration figures are averaged over the years 2015 to 2024 and based on 1,000 inhabitants. The graphs are shown for Aachen, for the average of the other university cities in NRW (excluding Aachen) and for the average of the non-university cities. The colored bars show inflows (yellow, right) and outflows (dark grey, left); the grey mirror in the background represents the respective counter value, so that it is possible to see at a glance in which age groups inflows and outflows diverge.

Aachen's profile is clearly characterized by one age group: In the 18 to 25 age group, the city records an average of 34.7 inflows per 1,000 inhabitants, while only 17.8 outflows occur in the same period. This results in an inflow surplus of around 17 per 1,000 inhabitants. The pattern is reversed in the older age groups. In the 25 to 30 age group, out-migration outweighs in-migration with 20.9 compared to 14.9 in-migration, and in the 30 to 50 age group with 22.1 compared to 15.9.

On average, the other university towns show a similar basic pattern, albeit in a much milder form. Here too, the 18 to 25 age group is the one with the most in-migration (16.1 per 1,000 inhabitants compared to 10.7 out-migration), and here too there is a slight surplus of out-migration in the 25 to 30 age group. The average inflow surplus among 18 to 25-year-olds in the university cities is around 5 per 1,000 inhabitants. In Aachen, the figure is 17, i.e. more than three times as many.

The non-university cities have a fundamentally different profile: Here, inflows and outflows are distributed more evenly across all age groups, without a single dominant peak. At 17.0 per 1,000 inhabitants, the 30 to 50-year-olds account for the largest influx, followed by the under-18s at around 9.4. The balance is also distributed more evenly. These cities gain slightly in the family years (U18 and 30-50) in particular, while the other age groups are almost balanced. In summary, it can be said that the age groups in Aachen exhibit a migration pattern that is usual for university cities, but which stands out due to its strong characteristics.

The following three charts show the spatial distribution of migration movements within Aachen, aggregated across the 34 statistical districts. The period 2016 to 2025 is considered.

The first map shows the average proportion of 18 to 25-year-olds in the population per statistical district in the period from 2016 to 2025. The range is considerable. While the proportion of young adults is low in outlying districts such as Kornelimünster (5.9 %), Walheim (6.0 %), Oberforstbach (6.6 %), Brand (7.0 %) and Richterich (7.0 %), the inner city districts have significantly higher figures. Ponttor reaches 32.8 %, Markt 27.7 %, Lindenplatz 27.2 %, St. Jakob 26.4 % and Theater 25.6 %. The median across all districts is 12.9%.

The second map shows the average migration intensity, i.e. the sum of inflows and outflows per 1,000 inhabitants. Here, too, the inner city districts stand out. In the Markt district, an average of around 281 migration movements per 1,000 inhabitants were recorded in the period under review, in Ponttor 273, in Theater 264 and at Kaiserplatz 246. On the outskirts of the city, on the other hand, the intensity is significantly lower: in Walheim, Brand and Oberforstbach less than 80. The median across all districts is around 161 migration movements per 1,000 inhabitants.

The scatter diagram illustrates the correlation between the two variables: The proportion of 18 to 25-year-olds in the total population and migration intensity are closely related. The more young adults live in a district, the higher the migration dynamics. The size of the dots also shows the absolute migration balance, the color the sign (yellow: positive, dark grey: negative). The districts with high intensity and a positive balance are striking: Ponttor recorded the largest migration gain among the districts close to the city center with plus 1,402, followed by Kaiserplatz (plus 991) and Theater (plus 852). However, Vaalserquartier, a district with a rather medium proportion of young adults, recorded the highest absolute balance with plus 1,654. The greatest losses were recorded by Eilendorf (minus 805), Brand (minus 802) and Hanbruch (minus 353). Overall, 21 of the 34 statistical districts show a positive migration balance.

It can therefore be said that Aachen is a city with unusually high migration dynamics and only moderate net migration. In the migration data, fluctuations in net migration correlate primarily with fluctuations in immigration. The decisive factor here is the 18 to 25 age group, as this is the only age group in which there is a clear surplus of inward migration. Aachen districts with a high proportion of 18 to 25-year-olds generally have a high migration intensity and positive net migration.