Ranking of German states by wealth

Ranking Germany’s Federal States by Wealth: A Comprehensive Guide for 2025

Germany’s economy is far from uniform: each federal state (Bundesland) has its own structure, strengths and weaknesses. Industry, services, natural resources and geography all play a decisive role in shaping regional prosperity.

This article presents an approximate ranking of the German states by wealth, usually measured by GDP per capita, and highlights the main drivers of this wealth, the most important income sources, each state’s share of Germany’s total population, and whether a state is generally a net contributor (Nettozahler) or a net recipient (Nettonehmer) in the federal fiscal equalisation system.

Note: This ranking is based on approximate figures and available indicators up to 2025. Exact values may vary from year to year depending on the overall economic situation.

1. Hamburg

Approximate ranking (GDP per capita): 1st
Drivers of wealth & key income sources:
- The port of Hamburg is one of Europe’s largest seaports and a central hub for logistics and foreign trade.
- A strong media sector (TV, publishing) and a well-developed banking and insurance industry.
Share of population: around 2.3% of Germany’s population (approx. 1.9 million).
Fiscal role: Clear net contributor to the federal equalisation system; pays significantly more into common funds than it receives.

2. Bavaria (Bayern)

Approximate ranking: 2nd
Drivers & sources:
- Powerful industries: automotive (BMW, Audi), electronics and high-tech (Siemens, IT and software).
- A strong tourism sector, driven by the Alps and historic cities like Munich.
Share of population: about 15.7% (approx. 13.2 million), making it the second most populous state.
Fiscal role: One of the largest net contributors in the German fiscal equalisation system, supporting several less affluent states.

3. Baden-Württemberg

Approximate ranking: 3rd
Drivers & sources:
- Leading industrial base in automotive (Mercedes-Benz, Porsche) and mechanical engineering.
- High innovation capacity thanks to strong universities and research institutes.
Share of population: around 13.2% (approx. 11.1 million).
Fiscal role: Clearly a net contributor, and a key pillar of the federal financial architecture.

4. Hesse (Hessen)

Approximate ranking: 4th
Drivers & sources:
- Frankfurt am Main is a major global financial centre, home to the European Central Bank and numerous international banks.
- A broad services sector in finance, insurance, logistics and consulting.
Share of population: roughly 7.5% (about 6.3 million).
Fiscal role: Strong net contributor, largely due to the financial sector’s high tax revenues.

5. Bremen

Approximate ranking: 5th in GDP per capita, despite being one of the smallest states.
Drivers & sources:
- The ports of Bremen/Bremerhaven and international shipping.
- Aerospace and aviation industries (production of aircraft components).
Share of population: around 0.8% (approx. 0.68 million).
Fiscal role: In practice, Bremen is often a net recipient, as its small tax base and high public expenditure make its budget structurally weak, despite relatively high income per capita.

6. North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen, NRW)

Approximate ranking: 6th in GDP per capita.
Drivers & sources:
- Germany’s most populous state and home to the Ruhr area with a very diverse economic base.
- Major companies in energy, chemicals, media and trade.
Share of population: about 21% (approximately 17.9 million).
Fiscal role: Depending on the year, net contributor or close to balanced; the ongoing shift from coal and steel to services strongly influences its fiscal power.

7. Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz)

Approximate ranking: 7th
Drivers & sources:
- Major wine production and modern agriculture.
- Important industrial and technology centres, for example around Mainz and Kaiserslautern.
Share of population: roughly 4.9% (around 4.1 million).
Fiscal role: Typically modest net contributions or slight recipient status; far less dominant than big donor states like Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg.

8. Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)

Approximate ranking: 8th
Drivers & sources:
- Headquarters of Volkswagen in Wolfsburg; significant automotive production.
- Extensive agriculture and substantial maritime services along the coast (ports like Wilhelmshaven).
Share of population: about 9.5% (roughly 8 million).
Fiscal role: Often close to balanced or mild net recipient, as high-performing industrial areas coexist with structurally weaker rural regions.

9. Schleswig-Holstein

Approximate ranking: 9th
Drivers & sources:
- Coastal tourism on the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
- Agriculture, fisheries, and transport services linking Germany with Scandinavia.
Share of population: around 3.5% (approx. 2.9 million).
Fiscal role: Frequently a net recipient, as its tourism and service-based economy does not generate the same tax revenues as large industrial states.

10. Berlin

Approximate ranking: around 10th place in GDP per capita.
Drivers & sources:
- Capital city and political centre of Germany, with a large start-up scene and a very strong tourism industry.
- Numerous universities, research institutes and international organisations, contributing to a growing knowledge economy.
Share of population: roughly 4.4% (about 3.7–3.8 million).
Fiscal role: A clear net recipient, reliant on federal and inter-state transfers due to high debt levels and the long-term costs of reunification and urban redevelopment.

11. Saarland

Approximate ranking: 11th
Drivers & sources:
- Border location next to France and Luxembourg with strong cross-border trade.
- Traditional heavy industries (steel, formerly coal) undergoing structural transformation.
Share of population: around 1.2% (approx. 0.98 million).
Fiscal role: Mostly a net recipient, due to the decline of heavy industry and limited diversification.

12. Brandenburg

Approximate ranking: 12th
Drivers & sources:
- Agriculture, forestry and rapidly expanding renewable energies (wind and solar).
- Economic spill-over from Berlin (commuters, supply chains, new industrial plants such as the Tesla factory).
Share of population: about 3% (around 2.5–2.6 million).
Fiscal role: Generally a net recipient, supported by federal and inter-state programmes to improve infrastructure and regional development.

13. Saxony (Sachsen)

Approximate ranking: 13th
Drivers & sources:
- Automotive production (Volkswagen and BMW plants in Leipzig and Dresden).
- Microelectronics and semiconductor cluster known as “Silicon Saxony”.
Share of population: roughly 4.9% (about 4.1 million).
Fiscal role: Historically a net recipient, though its fiscal strength is gradually improving as high-tech sectors expand.

14. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)

Approximate ranking: 14th
Drivers & sources:
- Coastal tourism along the Baltic Sea (for example, Rügen and Usedom).
- Fisheries and agriculture; industry is still relatively limited.
Share of population: around 1.9% (approx. 1.6 million).
Fiscal role: Clearly a net recipient, relying heavily on subsidies and investment support.

15. Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)

Approximate ranking: 15th
Drivers & sources:
- Agriculture and chemical industry in selected areas (e.g. Leuna, Bitterfeld).
- Demographic challenges, including out-migration of young skilled workers to more prosperous western states.
Share of population: about 2.6% (around 2.2 million).
Fiscal role: A net recipient, with substantial financial transfers needed to support local economies and infrastructure.

16. Thuringia (Thüringen)

Approximate ranking: 16th (lower end in GDP per capita).
Drivers & sources:
- Small and medium-sized industries, precision engineering and optics (e.g. in Erfurt, Jena, Eisenach).
- Agriculture and forestry, though with a relatively modest contribution to total GDP.
Share of population: around 2.5% (approx. 2.1 million).
Fiscal role: A net recipient, depending on transfers from richer states to finance infrastructure, education and regional development.

Conclusion

This approximate ranking illustrates the significant disparities in economic performance across Germany. While city states and high-tech industrial regions such as Hamburg, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse dominate the top of the list in terms of GDP per capita, several states – particularly in the east and north-east – continue to face structural challenges.

Through the federal equalisation system (Länderfinanzausgleich), richer states transfer part of their tax revenues to poorer ones. This mechanism aims to secure broadly comparable living conditions and prevent excessive divergence between regions.

In spite of all differences, this diversity is an important strength of the German model: powerful hubs attract innovation and capital, while targeted transfers and investment programmes help to develop infrastructure, education and jobs nationwide – a cornerstone of Germany’s federal economic framework up to 2025 and beyond.

* The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on in-depth research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur, or some figures may be based on estimates and preliminary data. The information in this article should therefore be regarded as a first, non-binding reference. For up-to-date and legally binding information, please consult the competent authorities and official statistical offices.