GER/AUT/SUI: Big City Population Boom

[Tender Branson]

The big cities in Germany/Switzerland/Austria mostly lost inhabitants by a fast pace in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

But now it seems they are booming:

Berlin (June 2011 -> June 2012): 3.478.000 -> 3.517.000 (+39.000, +1.1%)

Hamburg (June 2011 -> June 2012): 1.791.000 -> 1.805.000 (+14.000, +0.8%)

Munich (June 2011 -> June 2012): 1.363.000 -> 1.388.000 (+25.000, +1.8%)

Vienna (Oct. 2011 -> Oct. 2012): 1.726.000 -> 1.752.000 (+26.000, +1.5%)

Zurich (Dec. 2010 -> Dec. 2011): 1.373.000 -> 1.392.000 (+19.000, +1.4%)

...

For comparison purposes:

The 1971 Census showed the Vienna population at 1.620.000, while the 1981 Census showed the population at 1.531.000, a loss of 90.000 people during the 70s ...

What's the reason you think for the recent boom ? Opening of the labor market to Eastern Europeans ?

[opebo]

I don't know but those are impressive growth figures, particularly in countries whose overall population is static or in decline.

[Tender Branson]

Yes, at least here the rural areas were growing by 1% in the 70s and 80s, while big cities like Vienna lost about 0.5% each year.

Now it's the opposite: Vienna grows 1.5% each year and the rural areas are stagnating or losing population.

But it seems only the foreigners want to live in Vienna these days, while (young) Austrians only go there to study and then go either back home to their rural areas or move to smaller cities or to Germany or somewhere else. Austrian Citizens are actually moving OUT of Vienna, not in there.

At least it's not attractive for me to live there, because I'd rather live in a rural mountainous area than in a 2 million city.

[GMantis]

Yes, at least here the rural areas were growing by 1% in the 70s and 80s, while big cities like Vienna lost about 0.5% each year.

Now it's the opposite: Vienna grows 1.5% each year and the rural areas are stagnating or losing population.

But it seems only the foreigners want to live in Vienna these days, while (young) Austrians only go there to study and then go either back home to their rural areas or move to smaller cities or to Germany or somewhere else. Austrian Citizens are actually moving OUT of Vienna, not in there.

At least it's not attractive for me to live there, because I'd rather live in a rural mountainous area than in a 2 million city.

This trend is very interesting, as it's the opposite of that observed in Eastern Europe (and not only there, of course).

[ZuWo]

Not to be overly picky, but who came up with the claim that Zurich has more than 1.3 million inhabitants? The city itself only has a population of roughly 390'000 people, which makes it the largest Swiss town by far but obviously doesn't compare to the other cities mentioned. One could only take such a high number of inhabitants at face value if all of the suburbs in the proximity of Zurich are counted, but that's a questionable approach unless the same is done with Munich, Hamburg, Berlin or Vienna.
At least it can be said that the main point still stands: Like Vienna, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, Zurich has experienced a considerable growth of population in the recent years.

[Phony Moderate]

Technology seems to be making the world more urbanized.

[ZuWo]

I don't know but those are impressive growth figures, particularly in countries whose overall population is static or in decline.

Switzerland's population hasn't been static or in decline in recent history. On the contrary, there has been steady growth in the number of inhabitants thanks to continued immigration. In fact, population growth has been increasing in the last few years, and no end of this development is in sight (which is good for me as long as I teach German to foreigners).

[minionofmidas]

Combined with some pretty ugly gentrification, driving the poor out to the edges of the cities (usually within city limits).
Lots of posh new building projects on areas freed by deindustrialization, too.

[afleitch]

It's curious. I think it's a generational thing rather than just a immigration thing. People want to move to the city; there's jobs, entertainment and easy transport. The 'suburban dream' is unaffordable.

Curiously, for the first time since 1951, Glasgow's population began to grow again in 2008-2009. The population of places like East Dumbartonshire and East Renfrewshire are starting to fall again.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Manchester was one of the fastest growing local authorities in England at the 2011 census. It used to have a permanent slot as one of the fastest shrinking.

[Knives]

In 10 years Melbourne's population grew by over 600 000 people.

[Tender Branson]

Not to be overly picky, but who came up with the claim that Zurich has more than 1.3 million inhabitants? The city itself only has a population of roughly 390'000 people, which makes it the largest Swiss town by far but obviously doesn't compare to the other cities mentioned. One could only take such a high number of inhabitants at face value if all of the suburbs in the proximity of Zurich are counted, but that's a questionable approach unless the same is done with Munich, Hamburg, Berlin or Vienna.
At least it can be said that the main point still stands: Like Vienna, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, Zurich has experienced a considerable growth of population in the recent years.

Of course Zurich City has only 400.000 people, but I used the Kanton numbers because they were easier to find with comparable numbers from a year ago. Or do you have the latest numbers for the city alone ?

[opebo]

I don't know but those are impressive growth figures, particularly in countries whose overall population is static or in decline.

Switzerland's population hasn't been static or in decline in recent history. On the contrary, there has been steady growth in the number of inhabitants thanks to continued immigration. In fact, population growth has been increasing in the last few years, and no end of this development is in sight (which is good for me as long as I teach German to foreigners).

Yeah, sure.  And Austria is just barely behind Switzerland - around .36 percent to the the latter's .38%.  Still, while rapid compared to Germany's slight loss, this isn't very much growth.

[Tender Branson]

I don't know but those are impressive growth figures, particularly in countries whose overall population is static or in decline.

Switzerland's population hasn't been static or in decline in recent history. On the contrary, there has been steady growth in the number of inhabitants thanks to continued immigration. In fact, population growth has been increasing in the last few years, and no end of this development is in sight (which is good for me as long as I teach German to foreigners).

Yeah, sure.  And Austria is just barely behind Switzerland - around .36 percent to the the latter's .38%.  Still, while rapid compared to Germany's slight loss, this isn't very much growth.

Switzerland will grow by about 1% this year (ca. 80.000 people, like last year).

Austria will grow by about 0.7% this year (ca. 55-60.000 people, up from 40.000 last year).

Germany is on track to grow by about 0.2% this year (ca. 160.000 people, up from 90.000).

While Germany has a big natural population loss (births minus deaths) that is countered by big immigration growth, Austria has a balanced natural growth rate and high immigration balances and Switzerland has both high natural and immigration balances.

[opebo]

Yeah, sure.  And Austria is just barely behind Switzerland - around .36 percent to the the latter's .38%.  Still, while rapid compared to Germany's slight loss, this isn't very much growth.

Switzerland will grow by about 1% this year (ca. 80.000 people, like last year).

Austria will grow by about 0.7% this year (ca. 55-60.000 people, up from 40.000 last year).

Germany is on track to grow by about 0.2% this year (ca. 160.000 people, up from 90.000).

While Germany has a big natural population loss (births minus deaths) that is countered by big immigration growth, Austria has a balanced natural growth rate and high immigration balances and Switzerland has both high natural and immigration balances.

Oh, that's great, and very interesting. The figures I looked up on Wiki and CIA-worldfactbook must've been out of date.

[Simfan34]

Technology seems to be making the world more urbanized.

You'd think it would have the opposite effect.

[ingemann]

Copenhagen follow this pattern, while it's population have been falling since the 70ties, it have stabilise in the late 90ties and since the crisis it has begun to grow again. It's expected that it will grow with around 60-120K the next decade.

[politicus]

Technology seems to be making the world more urbanized.

You'd think it would have the opposite effect.

Yes its strange that internet and video conferences hasn't eliminated some of the rural/urban divide in population growth.
Cheap housing, nature, low crime rate and plenty of space should give the country some advantages.

[YL]

All the big English cities grew between 2001 and 2011, even Liverpool, and most of them were stagnant or declining between 1991 and 2001.

[opebo]

Technology seems to be making the world more urbanized.

You'd think it would have the opposite effect.

Yes its strange that internet and video conferences hasnt eliminated some of the rural/urban
Cheap housing, nature, low crime rate and plenty of space should give the country some advantages.

Rural is still boring, and also fuel costs much more nowadays, for when you do need to move around.

[DC Al Fine]

Technology seems to be making the world more urbanized.

You'd think it would have the opposite effect.

Yes its strange that internet and video conferences hasnt eliminated some of the rural/urban
Cheap housing, nature, low crime rate and plenty of space should give the country some advantages.

Rural is still boring, and also fuel costs much more nowadays, for when you do need to move around.

Sure, but if your house costs 100k less, one can buy a lot of extra fuel and still save money.