die Bevölkerung
population
All the inhabitants who live in a specific area such as a city, region, or country.
EXAMPLE
Die Bevölkerung Deutschlands beträgt über 83 Millionen Menschen.
The population of Germany is over 83 million people.
die Bevölkerung
population
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Bevölkerung' (population) belongs to the word family of 'das Volk' (the people). It is derived from the verb 'bevölkern' (to populate), which means that people live in an area. The ending '-ung' turns the verb into a noun.
EXAMPLE
Viele kleine Dörfer in der Region sind nur noch dünn bevölkert.
Many small villages in the region are now only sparsely populated.
Use in the singular
'Bevölkerung' (population) is a collective noun and is almost always used in the singular, even when talking about many millions of people. The plural 'Bevölkerungen' (populations) is rare and is used only in scientific contexts to compare different groups.
EXAMPLE
Die gesamte Bevölkerung wurde über die neuen Maßnahmen informiert.
The entire population was informed about the new measures.
Typical collocations
Common verbs used in connection with 'Bevölkerung' (population) describe changes, such as 'wachsen' (to grow), 'schrumpfen' (to shrink), 'zunehmen' (to increase), or 'altern' (to age). Typical adjectives include 'einheimisch' (native), 'städtisch' (urban), or 'ländlich' (rural).
EXAMPLE
Die Bevölkerung des Landes ist in den letzten zehn Jahren stark gewachsen.
The population of the country has grown significantly over the last ten years.
Compare with
Bevölkerung vs Gesellschaft
society / company
Gesellschaft and Bevölkerung can refer to the people of a country or region. Gesellschaft emphasizes the social community, its relationships, and its development, while Bevölkerung refers to all the inhabitants living there. Use Gesellschaft when talking about social changes and Bevölkerung when making statements about inhabitants.
Bevölkerung
Die Bevölkerung des Landes wird älter und braucht deshalb mehr Pflegeangebote.
The country's population is getting older and therefore needs more care services.
Gesellschaft
Die Gesellschaft wird älter und muss ihre Beziehungen zwischen den Generationen neu gestalten.
Society is getting older and needs to reshape its relationships between the generations.
In real life
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