The richest state in Germany is Bavaria. With a GDP of €526 billion, it is not only the richest state in Germany, but also one of the wealthiest regions in Europe. The second and third richest states are Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia, with GDPs of €385 billion and €358 billion respectively.
Bavaria’s economy is largely driven by manufacturing, with companies such as BMW, Audi and Siemens all having their headquarters in the state. Other important sectors include tourism – Bavaria is home to some of Germany’s most popular tourist destinations, including Munich, Nuremberg and Bamberg – and agriculture. The state also has a strong service sector, with finance and insurance being particularly important industries.
Baden-Württemberg’s economy is also dominated by manufacturing, with companies such as Daimler AG (the makers of Mercedes-Benz), Porsche and Bosch all based in the state. Like Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg also has a strong service sector; however its agricultural sector is smaller than that of its southern neighbour. The state is home to several major cities including Stuttgart (the capital), Karlsruhe and Heidelberg.
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is the most populous state in Germany with over 18 million inhabitants. Its capital city is Düsseldorf but Cologne and Dortmund are also major centres of population and economic activity. NRW’s economy was historically built on coal mining but today it has diversified considerably; although manufacturing remains important, other key sectors now include services (particularly banking), trade fairs & exhibitions and logistics/transportation – Cologne Bonn Airport being one of Europe’s busiest cargo airports..
