Bochum Population 2026
Bochum has a population of 385,729, making it the #16 biggest city in 🇩🇪 Germany, located in North Rhine-Westphalia. Roughly 0.5% of Germany's population lives here. It is about 8.9× smaller than Berlin, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
385,729
Rank in Germany
#16
Coordinates
51.48°N, 7.22°E
~102 m elevation · Europe/Berlin
Distance to capital (Berlin)
439 km
273 miles, straight line
Other big cities in North Rhine-Westphalia
Cities near Bochum
- Herne172,108 people · ~6 km away
- Gelsenkirchen270,028 people · ~9 km away
- Essen593,085 people · ~14 km away
- Recklinghausen122,438 people · ~15 km away
- Dortmund588,462 people · ~18 km away
- Bottrop119,909 people · ~20 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Bochum?
Bochum has a population of 385,729 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #16 biggest city in Germany.
What region is Bochum in?
Bochum is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Is Bochum the capital of Germany?
No, the capital of Germany is Berlin, about 439 km away.
Sources & notes
Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.
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