Future Region Münsterland - Future Atlas 2025

Münsterland remains a region of the future - according to the Future Atlas 2025 published by the renowned economic research institute Prognos. Why is that the case? Compared to the Future Atlas 2022, the region shows a stable performance: in all four districts, the future opportunities outweigh the risks, and in the city of Münster, the opportunities are even very high. Overall, the study shows that the future is also emerging away from the metropolises.

About the Future Atlas

Every three years since 2004, the Zukunftsatlas has analysed the future viability of German regions - based on 29 macro- and socio-economic indicators - and compares them in a nationwide ranking. The indicators can be categorised into four overarching topics: Demography, labour market, competition and innovation as well as prosperity and social situation. A total of 400 cities and districts are listed in the ranking.

Picturesque landscape in the district of Coesfeld in Münsterland
© Münsterland e.V./Long Nong Huang
Here you will also find vibrant big cities
© Münsterland e.V./Philipp Fölting
Perfect environment: families in particular like to move to Münsterland
© Dülmen Marketing/Die Marquardts
Innovation and progress: topics that are important in Münsterland
© Finanz Informatik GmbH & Co. KG
World market leaders can be found here just as much as strong medium-sized companies
© con terra
Münsterland has the lowest unemployment rate in NRW
© Christophorus Gruppe

Results in detail

Compared to the 2022 study, Münster and the district of Coesfeld have deteriorated slightly, while the other districts have improved significantly:

  • Münster from 19th to 32nd place
  • Steinfurt district from 116th to 103rd place
  • Borken district from 132nd to 110th place
  • Warendorf district from 139th to 119th place
  • Coesfeld district from 152nd to 169th place

In terms of demographics, Münster even came in 9th place, making it one of the top 10 regions with the best prospects nationwide.

You can request further results and information on the methodology of the Zukunftsatlas 2025 online on the Prognos website.

Reasons for the development

Münsterland had already performed well in the study in 2022 and was able to maintain its performance. These are the reasons for the region's positive performance:

  • A stable (in the districts) to growing population (in Münster)
  • Stable to growing employment figures
  • A strong economic structure
  • A healthy middle class

The housing situation is also more relaxed in rural regions than in metropolises. In addition, companies can often find commercial space here more easily and at more favourable prices.

More about the Münsterland region of the future

The Future Atlas gives a small taste of why Münsterland is a great place to live and work. But there are many more good reasons. We show you how innovative, liveable and ambitious the region is.