All 16 German States (Bundesländer): Complete Reference Guide
Why State Questions Matter
Three of your 33 test questions will be about your specific Bundesland. These questions cover your state's capital, coat of arms, Minister-President, and geography. Missing all three could mean failing the test!
Overview of All 16 States
| State | Capital | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | Stuttgart | ~11.1 million |
| Bavaria (Bayern) | Munich (München) | ~13.1 million |
| Berlin | Berlin (city-state) | ~3.7 million |
| Brandenburg | Potsdam | ~2.5 million |
| Bremen | Bremen (city-state) | ~0.7 million |
| Hamburg | Hamburg (city-state) | ~1.9 million |
| Hesse (Hessen) | Wiesbaden | ~6.3 million |
| Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) | Hanover (Hannover) | ~8.0 million |
| Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Schwerin | ~1.6 million |
| North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) | Düsseldorf | ~18.0 million |
| Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) | Mainz | ~4.1 million |
| Saarland | Saarbrücken | ~1.0 million |
| Saxony (Sachsen) | Dresden | ~4.1 million |
| Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt) | Magdeburg | ~2.2 million |
| Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel | ~2.9 million |
| Thuringia (Thüringen) | Erfurt | ~2.1 million |
City-States
Three states are also cities (Stadtstaaten):
- Berlin - Capital of Germany and a state
- Hamburg - Germany's second-largest city
- Bremen - Consists of Bremen and Bremerhaven
New vs. Old States
Old States (Alte Bundesländer) - West Germany
Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein, West Berlin
New States (Neue Bundesländer) - Former East Germany
Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, East Berlin
State-Specific Facts
Baden-Württemberg
- Capital: Stuttgart
- Coat of Arms: Three black lions on gold
- Known for: Black Forest, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche
Bavaria (Bayern)
- Capital: Munich (München)
- Coat of Arms: White and blue diamonds (Rauten)
- Known for: Alps, Oktoberfest, BMW
Berlin
- Capital: Berlin (is the capital)
- Coat of Arms: Black bear on white
- Known for: Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island
Brandenburg
- Capital: Potsdam
- Coat of Arms: Red eagle on white
- Known for: Sanssouci Palace, lakes
Bremen
- Capital: Bremen
- Coat of Arms: Silver key on red
- Known for: Town Musicians of Bremen, ports
Hamburg
- Capital: Hamburg
- Coat of Arms: White castle on red
- Known for: Largest port in Germany, Elbphilharmonie
Hesse (Hessen)
- Capital: Wiesbaden
- Coat of Arms: Red and white striped lion
- Known for: Frankfurt (financial center), Grimm fairy tales
Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)
- Capital: Hanover (Hannover)
- Coat of Arms: White horse on red
- Known for: Volkswagen, North Sea coast
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Capital: Schwerin
- Coat of Arms: Bull and griffin
- Known for: Baltic Sea coast, lakes
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
- Capital: Düsseldorf
- Coat of Arms: Rhine, Westphalian horse, Lippe rose
- Known for: Most populous state, Ruhr industrial area, Cologne Cathedral
Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz)
- Capital: Mainz
- Coat of Arms: Red cross, wheel, lion
- Known for: Wine regions, Rhine Valley
Saarland
- Capital: Saarbrücken
- Coat of Arms: Quarters with lion, cross, eagles
- Known for: French-German border region, steel industry history
Saxony (Sachsen)
- Capital: Dresden
- Coat of Arms: Black and gold diagonal stripes with green
- Known for: Dresden Frauenkirche, porcelain (Meissen)
Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)
- Capital: Magdeburg
- Coat of Arms: Black eagle, green garland
- Known for: Luther's Wittenberg, Bauhaus Dessau
Schleswig-Holstein
- Capital: Kiel
- Coat of Arms: Two lions, nettle leaf
- Known for: North Sea and Baltic Sea, sailing
Thuringia (Thüringen)
- Capital: Erfurt
- Coat of Arms: Red and white striped lion with stars
- Known for: Wartburg Castle, Weimar (Goethe, Schiller)
Study Tips for State Questions
- Focus on your state: Learn all 10 questions for your Bundesland
- Know the capital: This is almost always asked
- Recognize the coat of arms: Visual questions are common
- Learn the Minister-President: May change with elections
Practice State Questions
Select your Bundesland on BürgerQuiz to practice with your state-specific questions!
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