Bavaria: Facts and Figures

General

• Land located in South-eastern Germany; shares borders with the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland
• Largest German Land: 70,000 km²
• Second-most populated Land: 12.5 million residents (approx. 177 res. / km²)
• Capital: Munich
• Main cities: Munich, Nürnberg, Augsburg, Regensburg, Würtzburg, Ingolstadt, Fürth, Erlangen and Landshut

Politics

• Official language: German, several very widespread dialects
• Term of the Minister-President: 5 years, elected by the Bavarian Landtag (parliament)
• Landtag: 180 members elected by universal suffrage, 5-year term
• Visual identity : 
  • the official flag is white and blue (also widespread variant with lozenges)
  • the coat of arms has been officially acknowledged since 1950 (Coat of Arms Act), it symbolizes Bavaria's districts (Regierungsbezirke)
• Bavarian representation offices abroad: 22, of which the State of Bavaria Montreal Office is one of the most important; in addition, 1 office in Brussels (European Union) and 1 in Berlin (federal government)

Economics

• GDP: 442.4 billion euros (2010)
• GDP per capita: 35,337 euros (2010) (17% above national average)
• strongest growth rate in Germany: +33.5% between 1995 and 2010
• 2.9% of GDP invested in research (2010)
• 27.5% of German patent requests originate in Bavaria
• Munich (capital): economic leader of the Land, third-most populated city in Germany (1.3 million residents)
  o    one of the wealthiest cities in the E.U.: GDP per capita of 53,073 euros
  o    main choice for insurance headquarters in Germany, and for mortgage banks in Europe
  o    Munich airport among the most efficient in Europe

 Read an overview of current Bavarian economics.