BBSR Statistics: Number of Commuters Continues to Rise

The proportion of commuters remained stable at just under 60 percent, as the number of employees subject to social insurance contributions increased compared to 2022. This is the result of an analysis by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), based on data from the Federal Employment Agency. Among the 80 German major cities, Munich continues to exert the greatest attraction for workers from the surrounding areas. In 2023, 454,900 of the employees working in Munich lived outside the city limits. This is followed by Frankfurt am Main (404,800), Hamburg (391,900), Berlin (391,200), and Cologne (305,200). Hamburg recorded the largest increase in inbound commuters compared to the previous year (+13,200 employees), followed by Munich (+10,900), Berlin (+8,800), and Düsseldorf (+8,300).

Employees traveled an average of 17.2 kilometers to work

The average one-way commute remained unchanged at 17.2 kilometers compared to the previous year. In 2023, 7.13 million commuters traveled more than 30 kilometers to work (2022: 7.07 million), 3.96 million more than 50 kilometers (2022: 3.91 million), and 2.28 million more than 100 kilometers (2022: 2.25 million). The list of independent cities and districts with the longest average commuting distances is led by the districts of Märkisch-Oderland (Brandenburg, 27.4 kilometers), Ludwigslust-Parchim (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, 27.3 kilometers), and Altmarkkreis Salzwedel (Saxony-Anhalt, 27 kilometers). Additionally, particularly long commutes are also found in the districts of Landsberg am Lech (Bavaria, 26.9 kilometers) and Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm (Bavaria, 26.3 kilometers).

"The magnetic pull of labor market centers like Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin remains unbroken; the number of commuters increased slightly again last year," says BBSR expert Thomas Pütz. "Traffic jams and commuter stress are part of the daily routine for employees from the surrounding areas. Working from home helps to reduce traffic and mitigate negative impacts on the climate, environment, and employee health. Additionally, a good connection of suburban areas to public transportation, reliable bus and train schedules, and the expansion of capacities are crucial," emphasizes Pütz.

According to a study published by BBSR in 2023, accessible and regularly serviced public transport stops are a reality for the vast majority of people in Germany. 90 percent of the population can easily reach at least one bus or train stop with at least 20 departures daily on foot. However, densely populated districts are generally better connected to public transport than sparsely populated ones. The scientists determined the proportion of the population that finds a corresponding bus stop within a 600-meter radius or a corresponding train station within a 1,200-meter radius.

According to the microcensus, the car dominates by far

The new BBSR statistics do not indicate what means of transport people use to commute. However, according to the 2020 microcensus by the Federal Statistical Office, the dominance of the car remains unbroken: 68 percent commute by car, only 13.7 percent use public transport, and just 10.5 percent by bicycle. Even for short distances, commuters often use the car: up to a maximum of five kilometers, 40 percent get behind the wheel, while a quarter each take the bicycle or walk.