Hanau is losing its big city status: is there a risk of financial losses now?

Hanau is losing its big city status: is there a risk of financial losses now?

The mood in Hanau is becoming gloomy as the city is losing its coveted big city status. According to that Primavera24 The 2022 census shows a population of only around 93,000 inhabitants. This means that Hanau is over 9,000 inhabitants below the previously estimated numbers and remains well below the required limit of 100,000 to be considered a large city.

The city's objection to this new census data was rejected by the Hessian State Statistical Office, which further complicates the situation. The descent from Hesse's smallest city to the largest small town is in prospect. This not only results in a new image, but also has financial consequences: less money from the state, lower EU funding and possible cuts in official salaries are becoming apparent.

The reaction of the city administration

Mayor Claus Kaminsky (SPD) is disappointed with the decision and considers the census numbers to be incomprehensible and implausible. A comparison with the previous data from 2011, which the HSL 2022 had confirmed, leads to confusion. The census methodology, based on sampling only 10% of the population, is considered inadequate by both Kaminsky and others. A conversation with the HSL to clarify these figures is scheduled for mid-August.

In recent years, the city has invested heavily in municipal projects that are tied to major city status, including municipal heating plans and the professional fire department. Hanau is now looking to the future with concern, as the new population figures in this context could result in potential financial losses running into millions.

The look forward

Despite the sobering news, there is still hope: Hanau retains the possibility of becoming a district on January 1, 2026, which is guaranteed by a special regulation even if the population is less than 100,000. Kaminsky refers to this regulation as “Lex Hanau,” which means that the city could operate independently even without major city status.

There are signs of continued population growth in the city and beyond. This includes more daycare places and primary school students as well as a greater need for fresh water and electricity. These indications could speak for Hanau, even if the current data Census 2022 oppose that. The census itself recorded a decline across Germany, with Hanau having the largest decline of minus 6.7 percent.

Overall, one thing remains clear: Hanau is facing a new challenge. It remains to be seen whether the city will emerge from this situation stronger, but the commitment of the citizens and the city administration at least gives hope that the best will be made of the circumstances.