The 16 Federal States of Germany: Overview & Facts

Author: Seba Abbas
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The 16 federal states of the Federal Republic of Germany together form the geographical area of the country, which is one of the most important political and economic powers in Europe.

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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  • 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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  • 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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  • 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.
 

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  • 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.
 

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  • 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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  • 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. 
 

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  • 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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  • 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.
 

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  • 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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  • 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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  • 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.

 

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  • 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.
 

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  • 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.
 

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  • 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.
 

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  • 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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  • 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

Further information

Deutschland.de: Federal States of Germany

Wikipedia: States of Germany

 

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