Population in North Rhine-Westphalia

Definition: The population comprises those persons who have their main dwellings in the respective territory (§ 12 Reporting Framework Act). Current population figures are determined on the basis of the results of the last census by updating the population level. This is done using the results of the “Statistics of the Natural Population Movement” on births and deaths, as well as the “migration statistics” on arrivals and advances. The population does not include persons belonging to the stationed foreign armed forces or foreign diplomatic and consular missions and their family members. The non-German population includes all persons who are not German nationals. This includes stateless persons and persons with “unexplained nationality”. Persons who, in addition to the German nationality, have a different nationality are counted among the German population. The change in nationality law has facilitated naturalisation from the year 2000 and children of non-German parents will receive German nationality if the parents stay in Germany. These changes have an impact on the division of the population into “German/non-German”. Data source: It.NRW, update of population