Wohnort

Wohort is a German noun that denotes the place where a person primarily lives. It refers to the locality—typically a city, town, or municipality—where someone spends most of their time and maintains a habitual address. In everyday language, it answers questions like "Where do you live?" and is often used in forms, questionnaires, and demographic statistics.

In official contexts, distinctions exist between Wohnort, Wohnsitz, and gewöhnlicher Aufenthalt. Wohnort is the factual location of residence; Wohnsitz is the legally registered domicile for administrative and tax purposes. Gewöhnlicher Aufenthalt is a related notion used in some laws to describe the place where a person normally resides, which may differ from the registered address during travel or temporary stays.

Practical implications of the Wohnort include eligibility for local services, school enrollment, and participation in municipal elections, as well as data aggregation for statistics and planning. Moving to a new Wohnort typically requires updating records with relevant authorities and can affect local services and administrative arrangements depending on jurisdiction.

Usage varies by country. In German-speaking contexts, the term is common in forms and surveys; in Switzerland, it also denotes the municipality of residence. The concept is primarily administrative and statistical, rather than a strict legal status in everyday language.