Expert Report Supports Hanau's Lawsuit Against Census Results - Hanau sues over flawed 2022 census that threatens €10M in annual funding
Hanau is taking legal action against the Hessian State Statistical Office over its 2022 census results. The city argues that serious flaws in the data could cost it nearly €10 million a year in lost funding. Other Hesse cities, including Kassel, Fulda, and Marburg, have filed similar lawsuits over their official population counts.
An independent expert report has now backed Hanau's claims, revealing deep problems with the census methodology. The findings show that inadequate documentation and lack of transparency make the results impossible to verify independently.
The expert report highlights grave deficiencies in the census process. It points to missing details on calculation bases, unexplained extrapolation models, and undisclosed intermediate steps. Even paradata—side information collected during surveys—was not properly recorded. These gaps mean the results cannot be checked or reproduced.
Hanau's mayor, Maximant Bieri, has rejected the census figures, calling them unreliable. He insists the issue is not about minor statistical errors but about major financial consequences. The city risks losing millions in state funding if the lower population count stands.
The problems go beyond Hanau. A total of 279 Hessian municipalities have joined legal challenges, citing the same concerns. Experts like Rainer Schnell from City University London have confirmed the methodological failures, adding weight to the cities' arguments.
Transparency remains a key issue. The report criticises the statistical office for failing to provide clear documentation of its methods. Without this, cities cannot trust the numbers used to determine funding and planning decisions.
The legal battles could have wide-reaching effects on state funding allocations. Hanau and other cities are demanding a full review of the census data before accepting the results. If successful, their lawsuits may force changes in how future population counts are conducted and verified.
