What is the population of Hamburg?
Hamburg has a city population of 1,973,896. That is the population within the city's own boundary, not its wider metropolitan area. City population, GeoNames.
City profile · Germany · Europe
Hamburg
Hamburg · Germany
City population
1,973,896
#2
in Germany
#208
worldwide
53.551, 9.993 · 255 km from Berlin
About Hamburg
Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city and Europe's third-largest port. This Hanseatic city-state on the Elbe River has a population of about 1.9 million and a rich maritime heritage. Hamburg is known for its port, media industry (Germany's newspaper capital), and vibrant cultural scene. The city has more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined and a distinctive red-light district (Reeperbahn).
Metro population
1,906,000
0.023% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
+0.35%
Archive estimateDensity
2,525/km²
755 km² metro area
Key Facts
Country
Region
Hamburg
Leadership
Peter Tschentscher
Elevation
9 m
Approximate — modelled, not surveyed
Time zone
Europe/Berlin
Coordinates
53.551, 9.993
Record updated
2026-05-06
Entry edited, not measured
City population, GeoNames. GeoNames publishes no year for its population figures, so “record updated” is when the entry was last edited — not the date the population was measured. Elevation is modelled from a digital elevation model rather than surveyed, so it is approximate.
Nearby Cities
All 960 in GermanyClosest listed cities by great-circle distance from the city centre.
Compared with the World's Largest Cities
City-proper population against the fifteen largest cities in the dataset.
| Name | City population |
|---|---|
| Shanghai | 24.9M |
| Beijing | 19M |
| Shenzhen | 17.5M |
| Guangzhou | 16.1M |
| Kinshasa | 16M |
| Istanbul | 15.7M |
| Lagos | 15.4M |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 14M |
| Chengdu | 13.6M |
| Lahore | 13M |
| Mumbai | 12.7M |
| São Paulo | 12.4M |
| Mexico City | 12.3M |
| Karachi | 11.6M |
| Tianjin | 11.1M |
| Hamburg | 1.97M |
Airports
Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.
- Hamburg Helmut Schmidt AirportHAM
9 km from the city centre
- Lübeck Blankensee AirportLBC
56 km from the city centre
- Sea-Airport Cuxhaven/Nordholz / Nordholz Naval AirbaseFCN
91 km from the city centre
- Bremen AirportBRE
98 km from the city centre
Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.
History
Hamburg was founded as a fortress in 808 CE. It became a member of the Hanseatic League in the 13th century, growing wealthy from trade. The Great Fire of 1842 destroyed much of the old city. Hamburg was heavily bombed in WWII. Post-war, the city rebuilt and reinvented itself, with the recent HafenCity development transforming the port into a modern urban district.
Economy
Hamburg's economy centers on its port—the third-largest in Europe—handling over 130 million tons annually. The city is Germany's media capital, hosting major publishers (Der Spiegel, Die Zeit) and advertising agencies. Airbus has its largest plant in Hamburg. Aviation, logistics, IT, and renewable energy are key sectors. The cruise industry is growing rapidly. Banking and insurance are also significant.
Culture
Hamburg has a rich cultural scene including the new Elbphilharmonie concert hall (acoustically one of the world's best), museums, and theaters. The Beatles played over 300 shows in Hamburg's clubs before becoming famous. The Reeperbahn district is famous for nightlife. Maritime heritage is celebrated in the Speicherstadt warehouse district (UNESCO). Fish markets, harbor tours, and Alster boat trips are iconic experiences.
Transportation
Hamburg has U-Bahn, S-Bahn, buses, and ferries integrated into one system (HVV). The city is bike-friendly. Hamburg Airport serves domestic and European destinations. High-speed ICE trains connect to Berlin (under 2 hours) and other cities. The port handles cruise ships and ferries. StadtRAD bike-sharing is popular.
Current Challenges
Hamburg faces challenges including housing affordability as prices have risen rapidly. The port faces competition from Rotterdam and Antwerp. Climate change threatens the low-lying city with flooding. Integration of diverse immigrant communities continues. Balancing economic development with environmental protection in the port area is ongoing.
Highlights
Landmarks & Attractions
- Elbphilharmonie concert hall
- Speicherstadt (UNESCO warehouse district)
- Miniatur Wunderland (world's largest model railway)
- Town Hall (Rathaus)
- St. Michael's Church (Michel)
- Reeperbahn entertainment district
- HafenCity development
- Port of Hamburg
What Hamburg Is Known For
- Port
- Beatles history
- Elbphilharmonie
- Speicherstadt
- Fish market
- Reeperbahn
Universities
- University of Hamburg
- Hamburg University of Technology
Sports Teams
- Hamburger SV
- FC St. Pauli (football)
- Hamburg Freezers (ice hockey)
Interesting Facts
- Hamburg has over 2,500 bridges—more than Venice and Amsterdam combined
- The Beatles played 281 nights in Hamburg between 1960-1962
- Miniatur Wunderland took 18 years to build and has over 16 km of track
- The Speicherstadt is the world's largest warehouse district built on timber-pile foundations
- Hamburg is not named after hamburgers—the food originated here for German emigrants
- The city has its own dialect called Hamburger Platt
Population Trend in Germany
No free source publishes city population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 69,847,782 |
| 1960 | 72,811,640 |
| 1970 | 78,205,102 |
| 1980 | 78,315,375 |
| 1990 | 79,707,959 |
| 2000 | 81,797,258 |
| 2010 | 80,830,924 |
| 2020 | 83,628,708 |
| 2030 | 82,780,953 |
| 2040 | 80,551,736 |
| 2050 | 78,294,613 |
| 2060 | 75,604,605 |
| 2070 | 73,615,845 |
| 2080 | 72,112,514 |
| 2090 | 71,200,405 |
| 2100 | 70,899,863 |
Hamburg Population FAQ
Where is Hamburg?
Hamburg is in Hamburg, Germany, 255 km from the capital, Berlin. Its coordinates are 53.551, 9.993.
How big is Hamburg compared with other cities in Germany?
It is the 2nd largest of the 960 cities of 15,000 or more listed in Germany, holding 2.4% of the national population.