Facts & figures at a glance

Geographical location

Hanover, 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 transition 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 traveled north-south and east-west transportation 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 Hannover Region, a local government association comprising 21 municipalities. Established on November 1, 2001, the formation of the Hannover Region 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 Hanover itself is divided into 51 districts. A distinctive feature of the city’s layout is the high proportion of green spaces. Among other things, Hanover is home to the Eilenriede, Europe’s largest urban forest, which, at 640 hectares, is nearly twice the size of New York’s Central Park. With green spaces accounting for over 11 percent of its approximately 200-square-kilometer urban area, Hanover 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, Hanover boasts exemplary transportation networks and excellent national and international connections. The municipalities and city districts are exceptionally well connected via the high-frequency networks operated by the public transit companies üstra and Regio-Bus, as well as DB’s regional and light rail systems. The Hanover region 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 flights to over 100 direct 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, attract international trade visitors to the city every year. Hanover is a renowned university town. Leibniz University, which attracts students from around the world—particularly in its technical departments—contributes to the city’s multicultural character. This identity as a multicultural hub extends to individual events and festivals, such as the nationally acclaimed “MASALA” World Music Festival, which annually draws musicians from every continent to the state capital.

Quality of life

The Hanover region is characterized by an above-average quality of life and is attractive to people of all ages. It combines a high proportion of green space with excellent shopping options within easy reach, a vibrant club and nightlife scene, and a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Hanover 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 Hannover Region has been a local government association consisting of 21 municipalities. Although the core city has thus relinquished its status as an independent city, it remains on par with other independent cities. In the state capital, a directly elected, full-time mayor serves as the head of the city administration and the city’s representative. The City Council consists of 64 council members and the mayor. The Hanover Region is governed by its Regional Assembly. It consists of 85 members who are elected for five-year terms in local elections. Among them is the regional president, who is elected for an eight-year term.

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 various world-renowned industrial companies that have evolved from long-established 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, Hanover is a city with a strong service sector, with a focus on tourism—represented by TUI—and on finance and insurance, represented by numerous companies, including Hannover Re and VHV. As mentioned earlier, but worth repeating and emphasizing here, Hanover is a leading international trade fair destination. Deutsche Messe AG is Germany’s largest trade fair company, and its exhibition grounds are in fact the largest in the world.

Hanover—UNESCO City of Music!

Hanover 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. Hanover—along with Mannheim—is therefore one of the first German UNESCO Cities of Music.

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© HMTG

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