Hamburg, January 20 – Most political parties in Hamburg reported an increase in membership during the past year. The Left Party experienced the most substantial growth, more than doubling its membership, as first reported by ‘Die Welt’.
SPD Remains Largest Party, Greens Overtake CDU
The Hamburg SPD maintains its position as the party with the largest membership in the Hanseatic city. As of the end of 2025, 10,064 Hamburg residents held an SPD party membership, a decrease of 313 members compared to the previous year, as confirmed by the SPD to NDR.
The Green Party now boasts 6,772 members, having gained 1,169 new members last year, thereby surpassing the CDU. The Christian Democratic Union’s membership remained at approximately 6,000.
Significant Growth for the Left Party
The Left Party witnessed the most dynamic shift in its membership. From 2,156 members in 2024, their numbers surged to 5,529 last year, representing more than a twofold increase. “We have clearly succeeded in being a clear voice against the right and a clear voice for young people,” stated a party spokesperson. The average age of the party’s members has reportedly dropped from around 42 to approximately 37 years, and the proportion of women has risen from about 40 percent to roughly half.
AfD Sees Increase, FDP Loses Members
The AfD also saw an increase in its membership, with numbers rising by over 200 to 730. The FDP, which is currently not represented in either the Bundestag or the Hamburg Parliament, currently has 1,782 members, down from approximately 2,000 a year ago.
Context of Local Events in Hamburg
This news comes amidst other significant developments in Hamburg. The HADAG ferries to Finkenwerder experienced a significant increase in cancellations last year, with over 3,000 connections on the main line 62 alone being suspended. In a separate incident, a 33-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in front of a shisha bar, with the motive cited as family honor. The city also recently presented the results of a public survey regarding Hamburg’s Olympic bid, which received around 800 responses and will partially influence the bid concept. Furthermore, a ver.di warning strike at the Elbtunnel caused extensive traffic jams in Hamburg, impacting commuters until Tuesday evening.
These local events highlight the dynamic social and political landscape of Hamburg, where citizen engagement and public services are frequently in the spotlight.
