Dresden's 2026 population is now estimated at 572,117. In 1990, the population of Dresden was 511,110. Dresden has grown by 3,618 in the last year, which represents a 0.64% annual change. These population values and projections come from Germany cities and communes over 10k via CityPopulation state pages and World Population Review Internal Projections .
Dresden is a city that is located in Germany. More specifically, it is the capital of the Free State of Saxony. It is also the second-largest by population, which was last recorded as 543,825.
The city has a total area of 127 square miles (328 square kilometers) and a population density of 4,300 residents per square mile (1,700 per square kilometer). It is part of a larger urban area with over 780,000 residents. The metropolitan region has a population exceeding 1.1 million.
This city is known for being a center of culture, education, and politics not just in Germany but throughout all of Europe as well. It is home to a large student population who attend the Dresden University of Technology – one of the largest institutions in the country. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations and has 4.3 million overnight visits annually.
Dresden has thousands of foreign-born residents. The most significant groups include Russians, Chinese, Syrians, and Vietnamese. There are also residents that initially came from Poland, Italy, India, and other areas. About 91% of the total population is of German ancestry.
There is a slightly higher concentration of females, who make up just over 51% of the population.
In terms of religion among the population of Dresden, 45 percent are Protestant, 37 percent Catholic, 18 percent Muslim and other faiths.
The mean age of the Dresden population is 43 years old.
Dresden has always had a sizable population and was one of the first German cities to have over 100,000 residents. However, through the years it has seen its share of ups and downs. This includes a drop in population during World War II when parts of the city were destroyed. The population bounced back to over half a million following the war through the 1980s. Today, the city is one of the fastest growing in the country because of its re-urbanization and stable economy.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 3,775,697 | 1.22% |
| Hamburg | 1,917,879 | 1.47% |
| Munich | 1,531,842 | 0.89% |
| Cologne | 1,031,939 | 0.36% |
| Frankfurt am Main | 768,993 | 0.85% |
| Dusseldorf | 626,202 | 0.61% |
| Leipzig | 625,081 | 1.08% |
| Stuttgart | 614,876 | 0.18% |
| Dortmund | 608,723 | 0.43% |
| Bremen | 597,689 | 0.97% |
| Essen | 578,348 | 0.32% |
| Dresden | 572,117 | 0.64% |
| Nuremberg | 536,555 | 0.66% |
| Hanover | 531,123 | 0.86% |
| Duisburg | 503,126 | 0.09% |
| Bochum | 363,118 | 0.62% |
| Wuppertal | 359,624 | 0.2% |
| Bielefeld | 333,145 | 0.23% |
| Bonn | 325,138 | 0.28% |
| Mannheim | 322,437 | 0.69% |
