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Germany states by population

Introduction

Germany is a country in Central Europe known for its major cities, industrial economy, engineering, technology, historic towns, and cultural diversity. Its administrative structure consists of 16 federal states, known in German as Bundesländer. These states vary considerably in population, land area, economic activity, and population density.

North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany’s most populated federal state, followed by Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Lower Saxony and Hesse also have large populations, while Bremen is the least populated state. Berlin and Hamburg are both city-states, meaning each is simultaneously a city and a federal state.

Population statistics for Germany’s federal states help explain regional differences in urbanization, migration, employment, housing, transportation, education, and economic development. They are also useful for comparing population distribution between western, eastern, northern, and southern Germany.

According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, the country had approximately 83.6 million residents at the end of 2024. The ranking below uses official population figures for 31 December 2025, providing a consistent comparison across all 16 federal states.

Germany Federal States by Population in 2025

Germany has 16 federal states. The table ranks them from the most populated to the least populated, using official figures for 31 December 2025. <Cite refs={[“turn720913search3″,”turn720913search1”]} />

Source: German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), population on 31 December 2025. Figures are official population statistics based on the 2022 Census. <Cite refs={[“turn720913search3″,”turn720913search4”]} />

Which Is the Most Populated Federal State in Germany?

North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany’s most populated federal state, with approximately 17.99 million residents at the end of 2025. Located in western Germany, it includes major urban and industrial centers such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Essen, and Duisburg.

The state has a long industrial history and remains important for manufacturing, logistics, trade, services, education, and technology. Its concentration of cities and employment opportunities contributes to its large population.

North Rhine-Westphalia has substantially more residents than Bavaria, Germany’s second-most populated state.

Which Is the Least Populated Federal State in Germany?

Bremen is Germany’s least populated federal state, with approximately 706,915 residents at the end of 2025. It is a city-state consisting of the city of Bremen and the separate city of Bremerhaven.

Despite its small population, Bremen has an important maritime and industrial role. Its economy includes port activities, logistics, manufacturing, aerospace-related industries, and services.

Saarland is the second-least populated state, followed by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Most Populated Federal States in Germany

1. North Rhine-Westphalia

North Rhine-Westphalia had 17,986,214 residents at the end of 2025. It is Germany’s largest state by population and contains several major metropolitan areas.

Cologne and Düsseldorf are important centers for business, media, trade, and culture. Dortmund, Essen, and Duisburg are associated with the Ruhr area, which has a history of coal mining, steel production, and industrial development.

Today, the state’s economy includes manufacturing, logistics, finance, education, healthcare, and technology.

2. Bavaria

Bavaria recorded 13,245,503 residents. Located in southeastern Germany, it is the country’s largest federal state by land area and its second-largest by population.

Munich, the state capital, is a major center for technology, finance, engineering, research, and manufacturing. Other important cities include Nuremberg, Augsburg, and Regensburg.

Bavaria is known for its industrial strength, international companies, universities, tourism, and Alpine landscapes.

3. Baden-Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg had 11,238,761 residents. Located in southwestern Germany, it is known for engineering, automotive manufacturing, industrial technology, and research.

Stuttgart, its capital, is associated with major automotive manufacturers and engineering industries. Other important cities include Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Freiburg, and Heidelberg.

The state’s industrial base and employment opportunities contribute to its large population.

4. Lower Saxony

Lower Saxony recorded 8,000,826 residents. It is located in northwestern Germany and includes a combination of large cities, agricultural areas, coastal communities, and industrial centers.

Hanover is the state capital and an important center for trade fairs, business, education, and transport. The state also has important automotive, agricultural, energy, and manufacturing industries.

5. Hesse

Hesse had 6,278,594 residents. Its largest city, Frankfurt am Main, is one of Europe’s leading financial centers and an important international transport hub.

The state’s economy includes banking, finance, logistics, pharmaceuticals, technology, and business services. Frankfurt and surrounding urban areas contribute significantly to its population concentration.

6. Rhineland-Palatinate

Rhineland-Palatinate recorded 4,123,022 residents. Located in western Germany, it is known for wine production, agriculture, manufacturing, and historic towns.

Mainz is the state capital. Other important cities include Ludwigshafen, Koblenz, Trier, and Kaiserslautern.

7. Saxony

Saxony had 4,026,599 residents. Located in eastern Germany, it is known for manufacturing, technology, cultural heritage, and education.

Dresden, the state capital, is a major center for research and technology. Leipzig is an important center for trade, logistics, education, and cultural activities.

8. Berlin

Berlin recorded 3,700,577 residents. It is Germany’s capital and one of its three city-states, alongside Hamburg and Bremen.

The city is a major center for national government, tourism, culture, education, research, technology, and creative industries. Its international profile and universities attract residents from across Germany and abroad.

9. Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein had 2,958,519 residents. Located in northern Germany between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, it is known for maritime activities, agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy.

Kiel is the state capital and an important port city. The state’s coastal geography influences its economy and settlement patterns.

10. Brandenburg

Brandenburg recorded 2,551,889 residents. It surrounds Berlin and includes extensive forests, lakes, smaller towns, and rural communities.

Potsdam, the state capital, is located near Berlin and has important educational, research, cultural, and administrative institutions. The relationship with the Berlin metropolitan area influences settlement and commuting patterns.

Least Populated Federal States in Germany

Bremen

Bremen had 706,915 residents at the end of 2025, making it Germany’s least populated state. It consists of Bremen and Bremerhaven, both important for maritime trade and port-related industries.

Saarland

Saarland recorded 1,007,342 residents. Located in southwestern Germany near France and Luxembourg, it has strong cross-border connections and an industrial history associated with coal, steel, and manufacturing.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania had 1,573,685 residents. Located in northeastern Germany, it is known for its Baltic coastline, lakes, agriculture, tourism, and relatively low population density outside major towns.

Hamburg

Hamburg recorded 1,869,473 residents. Although its population is smaller than that of several large German states, it is a major port, commercial center, and city-state with an important role in international trade and logistics.

Thuringia

Thuringia had 2,078,946 residents. Located in central Germany, it includes historic cities, manufacturing centers, forests, and rural communities. Erfurt is the state capital, while Jena is known for education, research, and technology.

Population Distribution Across Germany

Germany’s population is distributed unevenly across its 16 federal states. Large metropolitan areas and industrial regions attract many residents, while some rural and coastal areas have smaller populations.

Western Germany

Western Germany includes major population centers in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland. North Rhine-Westphalia is particularly notable for its extensive network of cities and industrial centers.

Frankfurt’s financial sector, the Rhine corridor, and established transport infrastructure contribute to the region’s economic importance.

Southern Germany

Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are the two most populated states in southern Germany. Their economies include engineering, automotive manufacturing, technology, research, finance, and international trade.

Munich and Stuttgart are major employment centers, while numerous smaller cities support manufacturing and regional services.

Northern Germany

Northern Germany includes Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Bremen, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Maritime trade, ports, logistics, agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy influence the region’s economy.

Hamburg and Bremen are city-states with important port functions, while Lower Saxony has a much larger population spread across urban and rural areas.

Eastern Germany

The eastern states include Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. Berlin is also located in eastern Germany, although it is a separate city-state.

Population patterns vary across the region. Dresden, Leipzig, and other urban centers are important for education, technology, manufacturing, and services, while some rural areas have comparatively low population density.

Germany’s Three City-States

Germany has three federal states that are also cities: Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen.

Berlin is the national capital and the largest of the three city-states by population.

Hamburg is a major port and international trading center.

Bremen consists of two separate cities, Bremen and Bremerhaven, and has the smallest population of the 16 states.

Their administrative structure differs from that of larger territorial states such as Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Federal State Population vs. Urban Area Population

A federal state and an urban area are different geographic units. A federal state is an administrative division, while an urban area refers to a city or connected settlement area defined according to a particular statistical method.

For example, the population of Berlin as a federal state is different from the population of the wider Berlin urban region. Similarly, the urban area associated with Hamburg may include settlements outside the city-state’s administrative boundary.

The City Population source supplied for this topic focuses on German urban areas. It is useful for researching urban settlements and metropolitan population patterns, but a federal-state ranking should use state-level population totals from Destatis.

Why Federal State Population Matters

Population data helps governments plan schools, hospitals, housing, roads, public transportation, and other public services. It also helps researchers compare regional development, migration, employment, and demographic change.

Businesses use population statistics to estimate market size, workforce availability, consumer demand, and potential investment locations. However, population alone does not determine economic importance. Smaller states such as Hamburg and Bremen can have a significant role in trade, logistics, and specialized industries.

Comparing population with land area, population density, age structure, and economic output provides a more complete understanding of Germany’s regional differences.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many federal states does Germany have?

Germany has 16 federal states, known as Bundesländer. Each has its own state government and defined responsibilities within Germany’s federal system.

Which is the most populated state in Germany?

North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populated state, with 17,986,214 residents at the end of 2025.

Which is the second-most populated state in Germany?

Bavaria ranks second, with 13,245,503 residents at the end of 2025.

Which is the third-most populated state in Germany?

Baden-Württemberg ranks third, with 11,238,761 residents.

Which is the least populated state in Germany?

Bremen is the least populated federal state, with 706,915 residents at the end of 2025.

Is Berlin a federal state?

Yes. Berlin is both Germany’s national capital and one of its 16 federal states.

What is the difference between a German state and a region?

A federal state is an official administrative division with its own government and constitutional role. A region can refer more generally to a geographic or cultural area and does not necessarily have a separate government.

Why do population figures differ between sources?

Population figures can differ because of reference dates, census revisions, estimation methods, and geographic boundaries. For reliable comparisons, use the same reference date and official state-level dataset for all 16 states.

Sources:

• German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) — Population by Federal State
• Destatis — Federal States Population Statistics, GENESIS-Online
• Destatis — Population Projection and Federal State Demographics
• City Population — Germany Urban Areas