Germany: the 16 federal states at a glance

In short: Germany is a federal state of 16 Länder, including the city-states Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen. Each state has its own constitution, government and responsibilities, for example for schools and police.

In more detail: The states take part in federal legislation through the Bundesrat. The federal capital is Berlin.

In detail

• Territorial states: Baden-Württemberg (Stuttgart), Bavaria (Munich), Brandenburg (Potsdam), Hesse (Wiesbaden), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Schwerin), Lower Saxony (Hanover), North Rhine-Westphalia (Düsseldorf), Rhineland-Palatinate (Mainz), Saarland (Saarbrücken), Saxony (Dresden), Saxony-Anhalt (Magdeburg), Schleswig-Holstein (Kiel), Thuringia (Erfurt).
• City-states: Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen.
• Largest state: Bavaria by area, North Rhine-Westphalia by population.
• Smallest state: Bremen.
• Federalism: It distributes power and fosters regional diversity but makes rules inconsistent (for example for holidays and school breaks).
• Municipalities: Local self-government forms the lowest level (europaeische-union-geschichte-und-aufbau).