Germany has a federal system consisting of 16 federal states (Bundesländer), whose territories vary greatly in size – from vast states to city-states that cover only a few hundred square kilometres. In this article, we present the ranking of the German states by area for the year 2025 and indicate the approximate share that each state represents of Germany’s total area (estimated at around 357,000 square kilometres).

Note: The figures quoted are approximate values based on the latest official data and statistics. They may be subject to minor updates over time.

1. Bavaria (Bayern)

Area: around 70,550 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: approx. 19.8 %

General information:

• Bavaria is Germany’s largest state in terms of area and is particularly famous for the Alps in the south.

• It includes major cities such as Munich and Nuremberg and offers a broad natural diversity ranging from mountains to plains.

2. Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)

Area: about 47,600 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: around 13.3 %

General information:

• The second-largest state in Germany, located in the northwest.

• It is characterised by extensive agricultural land and a long coastline on the North Sea, as well as important industrial cities such as Hanover and Wolfsburg.

3. Baden-Württemberg (Baden-Württemberg)

Area: approximately 35,750 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: around 10.0 %

General information:

• This state is located in southwestern Germany and is known for the beauty and geographic diversity of its landscapes.

• It includes forested areas such as the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) and industrial cities like Stuttgart and Mannheim.

4. Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz)

Note: Officially, the state is called “Rheinland-Pfalz”. In some media, its name is loosely translated as “Bavaria of the Rhine”, although it is a completely separate state and not part of Bavaria.

Area: around 19,850 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: about 5.6 %

General information:

• Located in western Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate stretches along the Rhine and Moselle rivers.

• Its capital is Mainz. The state is well known for viticulture, wine production and low mountain ranges.

5. North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)

Area: about 34,100 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: roughly 9.5 %

General information:

• The most populous German state, including the Ruhr industrial area and major cities such as Düsseldorf and Cologne.

• Its topography ranges from plains to river valleys, offering favourable conditions for industry and agriculture.

6. Brandenburg (Brandenburg)

Area: around 29,650 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: about 8.3 %

General information:

• Brandenburg surrounds the federal capital Berlin on all sides.

• It is characterised by extensive agricultural land, forests and a wide variety of lakes and other bodies of water.

7. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)

Area: approximately 23,200 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: around 6.5 %

General information:

• Situated in northeastern Germany, this state boasts scenic Baltic Sea coasts and large inland lakes.

• It is the least densely populated state, which gives it a distinctly rural and natural character.

8. Hesse (Hessen)

Area: about 21,100 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: roughly 5.9 %

General information:

• Located in central Germany, Hesse is home to Frankfurt am Main, a key centre for finance and business.

• The landscape varies between low mountain ranges and river valleys.

9. Saxony (Sachsen)

Area: around 18,450 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: approx. 5.2 %

General information:

• Saxony lies in eastern Germany close to the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic.

• Its main cities are Dresden and Leipzig, and the south-eastern parts of the state are characterised by mountainous terrain.

10. Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)

Area: about 20,450 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: around 5.7 %

General information:

• Located in east-central Germany, with Magdeburg as its capital.

• The state is known for its wide agricultural plains and for its chemical and historically established industries.

Note: Some sources point out that Saxony-Anhalt (20,450 km²) is slightly larger in area than Saxony (18,450 km²). Accordingly, their positions may be swapped in certain rankings. For 2025, the more accurate figures suggest a small advantage for Saxony-Anhalt in terms of area.

11. Schleswig-Holstein (Schleswig-Holstein)

Area: about 15,800 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: approx. 4.4 %

General information:

• Germany’s northernmost state, located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

• It has a clearly maritime and coastal character, with well-known cities such as Kiel and Lübeck.

12. Thuringia (Thüringen)

Area: around 16,200 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: roughly 4.5 %

General information:

• Thuringia lies in east-central Germany and is often referred to as the “green heart of Germany” due to its extensive forests.

• Its capital is Erfurt, and the state includes mountain regions such as the Thuringian Forest.

Note: Because Thuringia (16,200 km²) and Schleswig-Holstein (15,800 km²) are so close in area, some rankings place them in slightly different positions.

13. Saarland (Saarland)

Area: about 2,570 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: less than 1 %

General information:

• Saarland borders France and Luxembourg, which strongly influences its cultural and economic profile.

• Historically tied to coal mining and steel production, it is now increasingly shifting towards modern technologies.

Note on Brandenburg’s position and the city-states

Brandenburg has already been listed in sixth place in this ranking. This remark serves as a reminder not to list the same state twice, but instead to include the remaining city-states – Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen – as separate states.

The following entries therefore complete the list with the three city-states and their areas: Berlin (approx. 891 km²), Hamburg (~755 km²) and Bremen (~420 km²).

14. Berlin (Berlin)

Area: around 891 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: approx. 0.25 %

General information:

• Berlin is the capital of Germany and the most populous city within a single municipal boundary.

• The urban area combines dense development with numerous parks, forests and surrounding lakes.

15. Hamburg (Hamburg)

Area: about 755 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: roughly 0.21 %

General information:

• The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is a city-state with one of Europe’s largest ports, making it an international hub for logistics and trade.

• The River Elbe is the dominant geographical feature, and the city is criss-crossed by various canals and waterways.

16. Bremen (Bremen)

Area: around 420 square kilometres
Share of Germany’s total area: approx. 0.12 %

General information:

• Bremen is Germany’s smallest state by area and consists of the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven.

• The port of Bremerhaven is a major gateway for trade in northern Germany.

Conclusion

Bavaria clearly leads the list of German states by area, covering nearly one-fifth of the country’s total territory. It is followed by Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg, both major states located in the southern and western parts of Germany. At the other end of the scale are the city-states of Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen, which, despite their small size, possess considerable political and economic importance.

This diversity in size and geographical features is reflected in the way of life and the economic structures of each state, and it helps make Germany, as a federal country, a union of very different regions under one common framework.

Germany’s varied geographic map is one of the pillars of its strength: each part of the country can focus on its own natural and industrial resources, and together they form one of the world’s strongest economies with a rich cultural and social fabric.

*The team of writers and editors on our website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and consultation of multiple sources when preparing articles. Nevertheless, errors may occur or information may be presented that is not yet fully confirmed. Therefore, the information provided in our articles should be regarded as an initial point of reference; for definitive and binding information, readers should always consult the relevant authorities and official bodies.