Facts & figures at a glance

Geographical location

Hannover, the capital of Lower Saxony, is a major, centrally located industrial and trade fair city in the heart of Europe. It lies on the Leine River in the transitional zone between the North German Lowlands and the Lower Saxon Uplands. To the southwest, the foothills of the Weserbergland, with their fertile loess soils, border the city. Its convenient location at the intersection of traditionally heavily trafficked north-south and east-west routes has facilitated Hannover’s development from a medieval village into a modern metropolis.

Structure

© HMTG / Martin Kirchner

The city center is part of the Region Hannover, a local government association comprising 21 municipalities. Established on November 1, 2001, the formation of the Region Hannover is now regarded as a pioneering political and administrative achievement recognized nationwide and as a milestone on the path toward providing optimal public services for citizens.

The city center of Hannover itself is divided into 51 districts. A distinctive feature of the city’s layout is its high proportion of green spaces. Among other things, Hannover is home to the Eilenriede, which, at 640 hectares, is almost twice the size of Central Park in New York and is Europe’s largest urban forest. With over 11 percent of its approximately 200-square-kilometer urban area consisting of green spaces, Hannover rightly bears the name “Metropolis in the Green.”

Infrastructure

Thanks in no small part to the infrastructure projects carried out in the run-up to EXPO 2000, Hannover boasts exemplary transportation networks and excellent national and international connections. The municipalities and neighborhoods are excellently connected via the high-frequency networks of the public transit companies üstra and Regio-Bus, as well as DB’s regional and light rail services. The Region Hannover is one of the benchmark regions frequently cited in connection with urban mobility concepts for the future.

Its central location in the heart of Europe is complemented by excellent transportation links. The A7 (Munich–Hamburg) and A2 (Ruhr region–Berlin) highways intersect here. The Deutsche Bahn ICE network provides connections to all major German metropolitan areas. Hannover Airport offers direct flights to over 100 destinations. And the Mittelland Canal, Germany’s longest man-made waterway, connects Hannover to the continent’s largest seaports and inland ports.

© HMTG / Martin Kirchner

Multicultural profile of the city

Hanover is a seasoned host to the world. Many renowned trade fairs, including the leading Hannover Messe, draw international trade visitors to the city every year. Hannover is a renowned university town. Leibniz University, which attracts students from around the world particularly for its technical faculties, contributes to the city’s multicultural character. This self-image as a multicultural hub extends to individual event and festival formats, such as the nationally acclaimed World Music Festival “MASALA,” which annually draws musicians from every continent to the state capital.

Quality of life

The Region Hannover is known for its above-average quality of life and appeals to people of all ages. It combines an abundance of green spaces with excellent shopping options within easy reach, a vibrant club and nightlife scene, and a wide range of recreational opportunities. Hannover is also surrounded by diverse landscapes that offer everything from water sports (Steinhuder Meer) to hiking and nature exploration (Deister). 

Administrative and governmental structure

© HMTG/Lars Gerhardts

Since November 1, 2001, the Region Hannover has been a local authority comprising 21 municipalities. Although the core city has thus relinquished its status as an independent city, it remains on an equal footing with other independent cities. In the state capital, a directly elected, full-time mayor serves as head of the city administration and representative of the city. The City Council consists of 64 council members and the mayor. The Region Hannover is governed by its Regional Assembly. It consists of 85 members who are elected for five years in local elections. Among them is the Regional President, who is elected for eight years.

Facts and figures (region)

• Area: approx. 2,290 km² (almost as large as the Saarland)
• Population: 1.1 million
• Density: 496 inhabitants/km²

Economy

Hanover is home to a number of globally renowned industrial companies that have evolved from traditional firms founded in the 19th century. Major industrial companies include the automotive supplier Continental AG, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, the vehicle systems manufacturer WABCO, the construction equipment manufacturer Komatsu Hanomag, the Varta battery plant (now Johnson Controls), and the abrasives manufacturer VSM Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken. Today, Hannover is a city with a strong service sector, with a focus on tourism through TUI and on finance and insurance through numerous players, including Hannover Re and VHV. As mentioned earlier, but worth repeating and emphasizing here, Hannover is a leading international trade fair destination. Deutsche Messe AG is Germany’s largest trade fair company, and its exhibition grounds are even the largest in the world.

Hannover – UNESCO City of Music!

Hannover is a UNESCO City of Music. The city thus joins the international UNESCO network of Creative Cities, which includes Glasgow, Seville, Bogotá, Bologna, Ghent, and Brazzaville. Hannover—along with Mannheim—are the first German UNESCO Cities of Music.

Press photos for download:

© HMTG

For media representatives

Video and Photo Downloads

We provide high-quality photos and video footage for your reporting.

read