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Kassel facing million-dollar lawsuit: special session because of census numbers!
Kassel is calling a special meeting on July 21, 2025 to file a lawsuit against the 2022 census numbers. There is a risk of financial losses.
Kassel facing million-dollar lawsuit: special session because of census numbers!
A crucial special meeting of the city council is coming up in the city of Kassel. On July 21, 2025, those responsible in the town hall will discuss whether a lawsuit should be filed against the official number of residents according to the 2022 census. The background to this urgency is the upcoming filing period, which begins with the delivery of the objection notice from the Hessian State Statistical Office (HSL) on June 27, 2025 and ends on July 27, 2025. It is feared that the city could suffer a loss of millions in revenue due to a statistically determined lower population, especially in view of the fact that, according to the 2022 census, Kassel has 195,177 inhabitants, more than 12,000 fewer than previously assumed ( HNA reports ).
The situation for the city should not be underestimated. The magistrate has already recommended bringing the lawsuit in order to prevent financial losses of around 12 million euros per year. In addition, 41 Hessian municipalities, including Kassel, lodged an objection against the census results, which, however, was rejected by the HSL. This approach has sparked resistance across the country, with many municipalities finding the published figures incorrect and fearing their impact on finances ( Hessian State Statistical Office reports, Hessenschau reports ).
Background to the number base
The creation of these population figures is the result of a register-based census that was carried out in Germany in 2022. This method was recognized as legal by the Federal Constitutional Court in 2018 and was intended to determine realistic population figures. The census showed that the population in Hesse is 2.6 percent lower than previously assumed. However, the decline is not only the result of the census surveys, but also due to developments such as refugee movements and the COVID-19 pandemic. This leads to a discrepancy between the population registers and the census results, which is a common phenomenon nationwide ( Hessian State Statistical Office reports ).
Another point of discussion is the fact that the deviations in the numbers often arise from inaccurate updates over longer periods of time. For example, the city of Hanau has lost its major city status due to its reduced population, which could have significant financial consequences. Such developments could put pressure on cities to re-examine the census results and take necessary steps to hold on to the financial resources of municipal financial equalization and EU funding ( Hessenschau reports ).
The coming weeks are crucial for Kassel and the other affected municipalities. They are faced with the challenge of either filing their lawsuits on time or accepting the financial cuts. The discussion about the new population figures could have lasting effects on local politics and financial planning.