Richest And Poorest States In Germany

Germany is a federal republic located in central Europe. The nation covers a large area of ​​357,104 square kilometers making it one of the largest European countries. Germany has the highest population among the European Union states with an estimated population of 82 million residents compared to 2015. The country’s constitution adopted on May 24th, 1949 transfers authority from the federal government to the individual states that make up the country. For four decades, Germany was divided into East Germany and West Germany. In 1989, East and West Germany unified after incessant protests especially in East Germany. Germany became a federation of 16 states after the unification of the two sides. While the state of North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany’s richest state by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it leads to Hamburg when it comes to GDP per capita. The state of Bremen had the lowest amount of gross domestic product.

The economy of Germany is one of the largest economies in the world. It is the large manufacturing and service industries that drive the country’s economy. Germany ranks third in the list of the world’s largest exporters. The country is known for its high quality exports. Its economy is set to grow driven by the burgeoning automotive and electronics industries. However, Germany needs to open up its economy to allow foreigners to invest in the country.

North Rhine-Westphalia

North Rhine-Westphalia has the highest population among the German states with around 18 million residents. In 2015, its GDP was 645.6 billion euros, making it the richest state in Germany. Of the ten largest cities in Germany, four are located in North Rhine-Westphalia. Düsseldorf is the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. The state was formed after the merger of two provinces in particular; North Rhine and Westphalia. It was famous for steel and coal deposits in the 1950s and 1960s. Today North Rhine-Westphalia has an extensive mechanical manufacturing industry. More than 37 large corporations conduct their operations from North Rhine-Westphalia. The state also has a thriving creative industry with excellent designers and artists in the industry.

Bavaria

Bavaria is the largest land state in Germany covering an area of ​​70,548 square kilometers. The state had the second highest GDP in Germany at 549.2 billion euros in 2015. Bavaria is richer than many countries in the world. It has a large auto and motorcycle industry with major manufacturers such as Allianz, Audi and Grundig in the state. In addition, world-renowned companies such as Adidas, Puma and BMW have their headquarters in Bavaria. Munich is also the largest city and capital of Bavaria.

Bremen

Bremen is the smallest state in Germany occupying an area of ​​419 square kilometers. The state is made up of two cities, Bremerhaven and Bremen. The cities are located in two different enclaves in the northern region of Germany. The two cities are located on the banks of the Weser River. Although Bremen is a large port city with advanced shipping facilities, it contributes to the lowest GDP among the German states. In 2015, the state had a GDP of 31.6 billion euros, making it the poorest state in Germany.

Saarland

The state of Saarland is located in the southwest of Germany. Its capital is Saarbrucken. The Saarland has a thriving mining industry with rich deposits of coal and iron ores. The state also has an agricultural sector that produces vegetables, grains, fruits, and dairy products. Most of the goods manufactured in the Saarland are exported to France. Despite the state’s growing economy, it is ranked as the second poorest state in Germany after Bremen. In 2015, the Saarland had a GDP of 35 billion euros.

The richest and poorest states in Germany