Facts & Figures

Bavaria borders with its neighboring countries – Austria, Czech Republic and Switzerland – with an area of approximately 70,550 km2 and therefore is the largest state in Germany and is about twice as large as Denmark, which measures some 43,000 km2, and also Switzerland, which covers 41,000 km2. 

Close to 12.9 million people live in Bavaria, of whom around 1.5 million reside in the state capital Munich. Among the largest cities are Nuremberg, Augsburg, Regensburg, Ingolstadt, Würzburg, Erlangen and Fürth. Rural areas are also important for Bavaria and cover some 85 % of the state. They constitute the living, economic and working base for nearly 8 million people, or roughly 60 % of the Bavarian population. 

Bavaria is located in the heart of Europe, making it the ideal base for developing new markets. In light of its hundreds of years of political and economic relations, Bavaria serves as a gateway to the countries in Central and Eastern Europe. However, it is not only Bavaria’s geographical location in the vicinity of Italy, Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine that facilitates access to foreign markets, because infrastructure also plays a key role. The state is home to international airports in Munich and Nuremberg, 42,000 km of roads, 6,120 km of railway and four freight transport centers.

Numerous renowned organizations are headquartered in Bavaria, such as the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Societies and Institutes, the Helmholtz Association and the Leibniz Association. These institutions facilitate Bavaria’s excellence in research.

The state also provides outstanding opportunities for the future of academia: Nine universities, 24 universities of applied sciences, the Munich Academy of Television and Film and numerous private institutions educate Bavarian students.