Constituent states

Germany is comprised of sixteen states which are collectively referred to as Länder. Each state has its own state constitution and is largely autonomous in regard to its internal organisation. Due to differences in size and population the subdivisions of these states vary, especially as between city states (Stadtstaaten) and states with larger territories (Flächenländer). For regional administrative purposes five states, namely Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony, consist of a total of 22 Government Districts (Regierungsbezirke). As of 2009 Germany is divided into 403 districts (Kreise) at a municipal level; these consist of 301 rural districts and 102 urban districts. 

 Lower Saxony

 Bremen

 Hamburg

 Mecklenburg-
Vorpommern

 Saxony-
Anhalt

 Saxony

 Brandenburg

 Berlin

 Thuringia

 Hesse

 North Rhine-
Westphalia

 Rhineland-
Palatinate

 Bavaria

 Baden-
Württemberg

 Saarland

 Schleswig-
Holstein

State Capital Area (km²) Population Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart 35,752 10,753,880 Bavaria Munich 70,549 12,538,696 Berlin Berlin 892 3,460,725 Brandenburg Potsdam 29,477 2,503,273 Bremen Bremen 404 660,999 Hamburg Hamburg 755 1,786,448 Hesse Wiesbaden 21,115 6,067,021 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Schwerin 23,174 1,642,327 Lower Saxony Hanover 47,618 7,918,293 North Rhine-Westphalia Düsseldorf 34,043 17,845,154 Rhineland-Palatinate Mainz 19,847 4,003,745 Saarland Saarbrücken 2,569 1,017,567 Saxony Dresden 18,416 4,149,477 Saxony-Anhalt Magdeburg 20,445 2,335,006 Schleswig-Holstein Kiel 15,763 2,834,259 Thuringia Erfurt 16,172 2,235,025