The City looks back on a long history as a center of mining and the steel industry and is now an important business location with a dynamic economy and a high demand for well-trained specialists.

Some of Duisburg's best-known and most popular attractions are:

The inner harbor: a modern residential and business district on the Rhine, known for its architecture and its restaurants and bars with a view of the Rhine.

The Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park: a former steelworks that is now a popular location for leisure activities and events.

The Mercatorhalle: a concert hall that regularly hosts concerts and musical events.

The Duisburg City Museum: a museum that documents the history and culture of the City.

Duisburg Zoo: a popular destination for families and animal lovers with a variety of animals from all over the world.

Duisburg City Park: a tall park in the heart of the City, a popular location for relaxing and strolling.

Duisburg has around 500,000 inhabitants. The majority of the population are German, but there are also many people from other countries and cultures. Many people with a migration background live in Duisburg, especially from Turkey and other countries in the Middle East and Southern Europe. Unemployment in Duisburg is relatively high compared to other regions in Germany, mainly due to the decline of heavy industry in recent decades.

There are numerous shopping centers and boutiques in the City, as well as many restaurants and cafés. There are also many cultural offerings, theaters, concerts, museums and exhibitions as well as many recreational opportunities such as parks and lakes. Many working-class families and people with medium purchasing power live in the City.