Lower Saxony · State Capital

Hannover

State capital of Lower Saxony — ranked #1 in the state across all key indicators

👥 522,285 residents 🗳️ 365,201 eligible voters 💼 352,553 jobs (place of work) 🚗 259,095 registered vehicles 🏫 476 childcare facilities 👶 5,047 childcare staff members
📊 Rankings Note: Hannover ranks #1 in Lower Saxony across all measured indicators and places in the Top 0.1% nationally for population size (national rank #14 out of all German municipalities). All data reflect the most recent available official statistics.

👥 Population

522.285
Total Residents
#1 in Lower Saxony
Top 0.1% national
#14
National Rank (population)
Top 0.1% Germany-wide

With 522,285 residents, Hannover is the largest city in Lower Saxony by a wide margin and one of the fifteen most populous cities in Germany. As the state capital, it serves as the political, economic, and cultural centre of the region, attracting workers, students, and visitors from across the country and abroad.

🗳️ Federal Elections & Voter Participation

365.201
Eligible Voters (Bundestag)
#1 in Lower Saxony
Top 0.1% national

Hannover registers 365,201 eligible voters for federal elections (Bundestagswahl), making it the most significant electoral constituency in Lower Saxony. The city's high voter count reflects its large adult population and plays an outsized role in shaping the political landscape of the state and the nation. The total includes eligible voters for second votes (Zweitstimmen) across all major parties.

💼 Employment & Social Insurance

352.553
Employees at Place of Work
#1 in Lower Saxony
Top 0.1% national
226.572
Employees at Place of Residence
#1 in Lower Saxony
Top 0.1% national

Hannover is Lower Saxony's dominant employment hub: 352,553 social-insurance-paying employees work within the city limits, while 226,572 residents hold such employment wherever they work. The significant gap between the two figures reflects the city's strong commuter inflow — thousands of workers travel daily into Hannover from surrounding districts. Key sectors include public administration, trade and logistics, information technology, healthcare, and the internationally renowned trade fair industry (Deutsche Messe AG).

Employment Indicator Value State Rank National Percentile
Social-insurance employees at place of work 352.553 #1 Top 0.1%
Social-insurance employees at place of residence 226.572 #1 Top 0.1%

🏫 Childcare Infrastructure

476
Childcare Facilities
#1 in Lower Saxony
Top 0.1% national
5.047
Childcare Staff Members
#1 in Lower Saxony
Top 0.1% national

Hannover operates 476 officially registered childcare facilities (Kindertageseinrichtungen) covering children from infancy through age 13, supported by a workforce of 5,047 dedicated childcare professionals. The city leads Lower Saxony in both the number of approved childcare places and the total staff headcount. Childcare coverage spans day nurseries (Krippen) for children under 3, kindergartens for ages 3–6, and after-school care (Horte) for children up to 14 years of age.

🚗 Registered Vehicles & Mobility

259.095
Total Registered Vehicles
#1 in Lower Saxony
Top 0.1% national
224.459
Registered Passenger Cars
#1 in Lower Saxony
Top 0.1% national

The city of Hannover has 259,095 registered motor vehicles in total, of which 224,459 are passenger cars (Personenkraftwagen). Data are further broken down by fuel type (gasoline, diesel, hybrid, electric) and by emission groups (Euro standards), reflecting an ongoing shift toward cleaner propulsion systems. Despite strong public transport infrastructure including tram and S-Bahn networks, private car ownership remains high as expected for a major German city.

Vehicle Category Count State Rank
All motor vehicles 259.095 #1
Passenger cars by fuel type 224.459 #1
Passenger cars by emission group 224.459 #1

💧 Drinking Water Supply

#1
Drinking Water Charges (private households)
#1 in Lower Saxony
Top 0.1% national

Hannover ranks first in Lower Saxony in the category of drinking water supply charges for private households (Entgelt für die Trinkwasserversorgung privater Haushalte). This reflects the scale of the municipal water infrastructure required to serve over half a million residents. Hannover Stadtwerke and associated utilities maintain an extensive pipeline network drawing from the greater Hannover region's groundwater reserves.

📈 Summary: Hannover at a Glance

Indicator Value State Rank National Rank
Population 522.285 #1 #14
Eligible voters (Bundestag) 365.201 #1 #1
Employees at place of work 352.553 #1 #1
Employees at place of residence 226.572 #1 #1
Total registered vehicles 259.095 #1 #1
Passenger cars 224.459 #1 #1
Childcare facilities 476 #1 #1
Childcare staff 5.047 #1 #1

Across all measured statistical categories, Hannover consistently ranks first within Lower Saxony and among the very top municipalities in Germany. As a metropolis with over half a million residents, a dynamic labour market, a comprehensive childcare network, and well-developed transport infrastructure, Hannover stands as the undisputed economic and administrative capital of northern Germany's largest state.

More statistics