Since 2001 it is part of the Hanover district ( Region Hannover ) , which is a municipal body made up from the former district ( Landkreis Hannover ) and city of Hanover ( note : although both Region and Landkreis are translated as district they are not the same ) .With a population of 518,386 ( 31 December 2013 ) Hanover is a major centre of Northern Germany and the country 's thirteenth largest city .
Hanover had a population of less than 518,200 by end of October 2013 .