The first federal state is Berlin, which is also the capital of Germany. The population of Berlin is around 3.6 million people and the city consists of 12 districts. In terms of cultural history, Berlin is a city where the inhabitants are never bored. It is home to numerous artistic events, folk festivals, film festivals and exhibitions. In terms of tourism, the Brandenburg Gate is one of the city's most famous landmarks, as is the Berlin TV Tower on Alexanderplatz, which is the tallest building in Germany. Many visitors and residents of Berlin use the tower's fast elevator to reach the top floor and enjoy the breathtaking view of the entire city. Interestingly, the tower's sphere rotates once an hour, so you can enjoy a panoramic view without having to move. There are many other tourist attractions in Berlin besides the two mentioned above.
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Quick facts
- State capital: Berlin
- Population: 3.6 million
- Area: 891 km²
- Unemployment rate: 10.2 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 64,964
- Of which medical staff: 11,423
- Of which non-medical staff: 53,541
As of 2023
Berlin is enclosed by the federal state of Brandenburg. Brandenburg is a federal state in the east of Germany with a population of around 2.5 million people. It is divided into 14 administrative districts and 254 independent cities. The capital of the federal state is Potsdam, other important cities are Frankfurt (Oder) and Cottbus. The state's economy is mainly based on agriculture and livestock farming, while industry is geographically concentrated around Berlin. Potsdam, the state capital, is rich in rococo-style historical monuments, including the magnificent Sanssouci Palace.
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Quick facts
- State capital: Potsdam
- Population: 2.5 million
- Area: 29,479 km²
- Unemployment rate: 6.5 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 34,828
- Of which medical staff: 5,754
- Of which non-medical staff: 29,074
As of 2023
In the southwest of Germany lies the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, which is known for its remarkable natural diversity. The Black Forest extends to the west, Lake Constance and the Alps to the south, the Swabian Alb to the east and the Hohenlohe region and Kraichgau to the north. The federal state is divided into four regions: Stuttgart (the capital), Freiburg, Karlsruhe and Tübingen. With around 11.2 million inhabitants, Baden-Württemberg is a very active region and one of the richest in Germany. The headquarters of major automotive companies such as Mercedes, Porsche and Audi are located here.
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Quick facts
- State capital: Stuttgart
- Population: 11.2 million
- Area: 35,750 km²
- Unemployment rate: 4.5 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 183,717
- Of which medical staff: 26,573
- Of which non-medical staff: 157,144
As of 2023
Located in south-eastern Germany, Bavaria is inhabited by more than 13 million people and is divided into seven regions, including Munich, the largest city and capital of the state, as well as the city with the third largest airport in the country. Bavaria is known for its important economic sectors such as banking, insurance, tourism and entertainment. Every year, Bavaria hosts the largest folk festival in the world, the Oktoberfest. The region also has a rich cultural infrastructure with 1150 museums, 22 theaters and 35 opera houses.
The following centers offer advice for professionals:
- MigraNet | IQ Network Bavaria
- Recognition of foreign professional qualifications in Bavaria
- Make it in Bavaria
Quick facts
- State capital: Munich
- Population: 13.1 million
- Area: 70,550 km²
- Unemployment rate: 4.1 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 233,641
- Of which medical staff: 34,141
- Of which non-medical staff: 199,500
As of 2023
Lower Saxony is the second largest federal state in Germany in terms of area after Bavaria. The capital and seat of the state government is Hanover. The state is divided into 38 rural districts and 8 urban districts. The most important cities include Braunschweig, Osnabrück, Göttingen, Hildesheim, Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, Wolfsburg, Cuxhaven, Celle, Salzgitter, Uelzen, Emden, Stade and Lüneburg. Geographically, Lower Saxony extends over flat land, which makes it an important agricultural area. It has a population of 8 million people. A highlight is the well-known automobile company Volkswagen, which has its headquarters in Wolfsburg. Hanover also hosts the world's largest trade fair for communications and computers, CeBIT, every year, along with hosting numerous international trade fairs.
The following centers offer advice for professionals:
- Welcome Center Braunschweig and Wolfsburg
- Welcome Center Elbe-Weser-Raum
- Welcome Center Ems-Achse
- Welcome Center Region Hannover
- Welcome Center Heidekreis
- Welcome Center Region Hildesheim
- Welcome Center Oldenburg
- Welcome-Center IHK Oldenburg
- Welcome & Connect Center Osnabrück
- Welcome Centre Südniedersachsen
- Welcome Center Landkreis Verden
- Welcome Center Wesermarsch
- IQ Network Niedersachsen
Quick facts
- State capital: Hanover
- Population: 8 million
- Area: 47,710 km²
- Unemployment rate: 6.2 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 120,570
- Of which medical staff: 16,839
- Of which non-medical staff: 103,731
As of 2023
Like Berlin, Hamburg is not just a city, but also a federal state. Located in the north-west of the country, the metropolitan region is the second largest city in Germany in terms of area and is home to the country's largest port. The population is around 1.8 million, with an additional 750,000 people living in the surrounding areas. Hamburg is known for its numerous waterways and bridges, of which there are around 2500. The city is divided into seven administrative districts: Hamburg-Mitte, Altona, Eimsbüttel, Hamburg-Nord, Wandsbek, Bergedorf and Harburg, comprising a total of 105 districts. Economically, the city is heavily involved in the consumer goods industry, aviation, chemical and electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, the mineral oil industry, the banking sector and the publishing industry.
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Quick facts
- State capital: Hamburg
- Population: 1.8 Mio.
- Area: 755 km²
- Unemployment rate: 8,3 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 41,405
- Of which medical staff: 7,263
- Of which non-medical staff: 34,142
As of 2023
North Rhine-Westphalia is located in the west of Germany and is the most populous federal state with more than 18 million inhabitants. It is administratively divided into 5 districts (Arnsberg, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, the capital, Cologne and Münster), 31 rural districts and 23 urban districts. The federal state is known for its steel industry and coal mines and is considered the economically strongest federal state in Germany.
The following centers offer advice for professionals:
- IQ Network North Rhine-Westphalia
- Immigration in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Welcomecenter Essen
- Welcome Agency Dortmund
- Life in South Westphalia
- DRK Düsseldorf
Quick facts
- State capital: Düsseldorf
- Population: 18 million
- Area: 34,112 km²
- Unemployment rate: 7.9 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 326,845
- Of which medical staff: 48,041
- Of which non-medical staff: 278,804
As of 2023
Saarland is the smallest federal state in Germany and is located in the southwest of the country. It has around one million inhabitants, who refer to their home as the “world capital of computer science” due to its numerous renowned research institutes. Administratively, Saarland is divided into six districts, with the capital Saarbrücken being the largest city. The federal state is one of the most densely wooded regions in Germany. It produces iron, steel and building materials and is characterized by successful industries in mining, agriculture, software and automotive production, which form the basis of its economy.
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Quick facts
- State capital: Saarbrücken
- Population: 1 million
- Area: 2,571 km²
- Unemployment rate: 7.5 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 20,817
- Of which medical staff: 2,956
- Of which non-medical staff: 17,861
As of 2023
Rhineland-Palatinate is also located in the west of Germany and has an economy that is heavily based on agriculture. The region is known for its viticulture and accounts for two thirds of Germany's total wine production. The population is around 4 million people and the capital is Mainz. The state is divided into 24 districts and 12 independent cities. Other important cities include Koblenz, Kaiserslautern, Trier and Ludwigshafen.
The following centers offer advice for professionals:
- Make it in Rhineland-Palatinate
- IQ Network Rhineland-Palatinate
- Welcome Center Koblenz
- Welcome Center Trier
- Welcome Center Pfalz
- Welcome Center Rheinhessen
Quick facts
- State capital: Mainz
- Population: 4.1 million
- Area: 19,858 km²
- Unemployment rate: 5.5 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 65,700
- Of which medical staff: 9,020
- Of which non-medical staff: 56,680
As of 2023
Bremen is one of the smallest federal states in Germany and is located in the north of the country. Like Berlin and Hamburg, it is a city state, but together with Bremerhaven it comprises two cities. The population is around 700,000. Bremen is home to Germany's second largest export port after the port of Hamburg.
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Quick facts
- State capital: Bremen
- Population: 0.7 million
- Area: 419 km²
- Unemployment rate: 11.7 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 12,437
- Of which medical staff: 1,999
- Of which non-medical staff: 10,438
As of 2023
Hesse is one of the economically strongest federal states in Germany and is divided into three administrative regions: Darmstadt, Giessen and Kassel, which are divided into 21 rural districts and 5 independent cities. The capital of the federal state is Wiesbaden. A total of around 6 million people live in Hesse. The state's most important economic metropolis is Frankfurt am Main, which is considered the economic center of the state and is home to Germany's largest airport. Most of the major banks, insurance companies and service providers are based in Frankfurt. The headquarters of the Opel Group is located in Rüsselsheim, and the headquarters of the electronics company Siemens is also in Hesse.
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Quick facts
- State capital: Wiesbaden
- Population: 6.2 million
- Area: 21,115 km²
- Unemployment rate: 5.8 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 96,929
- Of which medical staff: 14,904
- Of which non-medical staff: 82,025
As of 2023
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is a federal state in the north of Germany on the Baltic Sea with a population of more than 1.6 million people. It is characterized by beautiful nature and a flat, even landscape, making it a thriving tourist destination. However, the region is one of the least industrialized, which is why it has the highest unemployment rate in the country. Administratively, it is divided into 12 districts and 6 independent cities, with Schwerin as the capital and Rostock as the largest coastal city.
The following centers offer advice for professionals:
- Welcome Center Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- IQ Network Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Professionals-Service-Center Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Quick facts
- State capital: Schwerin
- Population: 1.6 million
- Area: 23,295 km²
- Unemployment rate: 8.4 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 28,158
- Of which medical staff: 4,345
- Of which non-medical staff: 23,813
As of 2023
The federal state of Schleswig-Holstein is located in the far north of the country and is divided into 11 administrative districts and 4 independent cities. It has more than 2.9 million inhabitants. The capital is Kiel and the most important cities are Lübeck, Flensburg and Neumünster. The state's economy is generally based on agriculture, as most of its areas are flat. Fishing is also strongly represented, as it borders the Baltic Sea to the east and the North Sea to the west.
The following centers offer advice for professionals:
- Welcome Center Schleswig-Holstein
- IQ Network Schleswig-Holstein
- Recognition of foreign degrees in Schleswig-Holstein
Quick facts
- State capital: Kiel
- Population: 2.9 million
- Area: 15,800 km²
- Unemployment rate: 6.1 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 46,140
- Of which medical staff: 7,280
- Of which non-medical staff: 38,860
As of 2023
The federal state of Saxony is located in the east of Germany and is home to more than 4 million people. It is divided into 3 regions (the capital Dresden, Chemnitz, Leipzig), which are spread across 22 administrative districts and 7 independent cities. The federal state is a popular tourist destination and, together with Dresden and Leipzig, is one of the most visited regions in Germany. Culture plays a particularly important role, with over 400 museums testifying to its rich history and diversity. The state government has passed the Saxony Law on Integration and Participation, which deals with people with a migration background.
The following centers offer advice for professionals:
- Welcome Service Saxony
- Consultation Service for foreign degrees in Saxony
- Welcome Center Dresden
- Welcome Center Leipzig
- Welcome Center Bautzen
- Welcome Center Erzgebirge
- Welcome Center Zwickau
Quick facts
- State capital: Dresden
- Population: 4.1 million
- Area: 18,449 km²
- Unemployment rate: 7%
- Number of staff in hospitals: 64,594
- Of which medical staff: 10,150
- Of which non-medical staff: 54,444
As of 2023
Saxony-Anhalt is located in the center of Germany and has more than 2 million inhabitants. The federal state is divided into 21 administrative districts and 3 independent cities. The capital is Magdeburg and the most important cities are Dessau and Halle. Saxony-Anhalt suffers from high unemployment and occupies a top position in Germany in this respect.
The following centers offer advice for professionals:
- Welcome Center Saxony-Anhalt
- IQ Network Saxony-Anhalt
- Integration portal Saxony-Anhalt
- Welcome Service Magdeburg
Quick facts
- State capital: Magdeburg
- Population: 2.1 million
- Area: 20,456 km²
- Unemployment rate: 8.1 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 36,335
- Of which medical staff: 5,728
- Of which non-medical staff: 30,607
As of 2023
Thuringia is located in the geographical center of Germany. The capital is Erfurt and the state has more than 2 million inhabitants spread across 17 districts and 6 independent cities. After the capital, the most important cities are Gera, Jena and Weimar. Thuringia has extensive agricultural areas, but suffers from the emigration of young workers.
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Quick facts
- State capital: Erfurt
- Population: 2.1 million
- Area: 16,202 km²
- Unemployment rate: 6.5 %
- Number of staff in hospitals: 36,524
- Of which medical staff: 5,578
- Of which non-medical staff: 30,946
As of 2023