List of the States of Germany
• November 9, 2021
Berlin
Baden-Württemberg
Bavaria
Bremen
Hesse
Hamburg
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Lower Saxony
North Rhine-Westphalia
Rhineland-Palatinate
Schleswig-Holstein
Saarland
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
Thuringia
States of Germany
Germany consists of 16 states. These states are called Bundesländer in German. The largest Bundesland is Bavaria. The smallest state is Bremen. North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populated state with a population of 17,925,570.
Below you find more insights on the states of Germany.
Learn more about Germany
What is Bavaria like?
Oktoberfest, lederhosen and a lot of people that aren't from Bavaria. This summarizes Bavaria, but only one side of the state. You also find some of the most beautiful and wildest German nature including the Alpes here. Mountain castles such as Neuschwanstein are the icing on the cake.
How is Berlin?
Berlin is unlike many other capital cities. The people in Berlin are known for being very friendly and open. In fact, it is not uncommon to be greeted by a complete stranger when you walk down the street or enter a cafe or store.
What is Hamburg like? What to do in Hamburg?
It is known for the Reeperbahn Street which features many nightclubs, bars and brothels. Hamburg also has a lot to offer in terms of culture and festivals. The city is known for its annual gay pride Hamburg Pride festival, as well as the Alster fair ("Alstervergnügen"), which is held at the Binnenalster. The Hamburger DOM is also a popular attraction, and is the largest funfair in northern Germany. Other popular festivals include the Hafengeburtstag, a funfair to honour the birthday of the port of Hamburg, and the Filmfest Hamburg.
What is Leipzig like?
Leipzig is a beautiful, historic city with a lot to offer. The city is home to many universities, museums, galleries, and parks & lakes, as well as a vibrant nightlife scene. The city center is full of historic buildings and monuments, while the surrounding countryside is perfect for hiking and exploring. Leipzig has a population of over 600,000 people, but it doesn't feel like any regular city of this size.
Leipzig is also an excellent place to study or work, as it has been ranked the most livable city in Germany and the second-best city for students in Germany. While prices are rising, it is still a relatively affordable city to live in. This earned the city the by-name "hypezig".
Table of the states of Germany
Below you find a table of the states of Germany including some useful orientation such as the population and size in square km.
| Abbr. | Name | Population | Area | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB | Brandenburg | 2531071 | 29478.63 | Potsdam |
| BE | Berlin | 3664088 | 891.7 | |
| BW | Baden-Württemberg | 11111496 | 35751.46 | Stuttgart |
| BY | Bavaria | 13140183 | 70550.19 | Munich |
| HB | Bremen | 680130 | 326.73 | |
| HE | Hesse | 6293154 | 21114.94 | Wiesbaden |
| HH | Hamburg | 1852478 | 755.22 | |
| MV | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 1610774 | 23174.12 | Rostock |
| NI | Lower Saxony | 8003421 | 47614.07 | Hanover |
| NW | North Rhine-Westphalia | 17925570 | 34084.13 | Düsseldorf |
| RP | Rhineland-Palatinate | 4098391 | 19854.21 | Mainz |
| SH | Schleswig-Holstein | 2910875 | 15763.18 | Kiel |
| SL | Saarland | 983991 | 2570 | Saarbrücken |
| SN | Saxony | 4056941 | 18415.66 | Dresden |
| ST | Saxony-Anhalt | 2180684 | 20451.58 | Magdeburg |
| TH | Thuringia | 2120237 | 16171 | Erfurt |
Still got questions? We've got your back 💪️
What is the population of Germany?
The total population of Germany counts 83,163,484.
Which Bundesland is the smallest?
The smallest state is Bremen with an area of only 327 km².
Which state of Germany is the largest?
The largest Bundesland is Bavaria with an area of 70,550 km².
Which Bundesland has the lowest population?
The fewest people live in Bremen. Only 680,130 people call Bremen home.