The term new states of Germany (German: neue Bundesländer or neue Länder) refers primarily to the five federal states that were re‑established or created in the territory of the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) when the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic were reunified on 3 October 1990. The designation distinguishes these Länder from the ten older federal states (the alten Länder) that existed in West Germany prior to reunification.
Historical background
- German reunification – The collapse of the socialist regime in East Germany in 1989 led to negotiations culminating in the Einigungsvertrag (Treaty on German Unity). The treaty stipulated that the five new Länder would accede to the Federal Republic, thereby extending the German constitution and federal system to the former GDR territory.
- Pre‑1990 administrative divisions – Prior to reunification, East Germany was divided into 14 Bezirke (districts) which replaced the historic Länder after 1952. The neue Länder were formed by merging and re‑constituting the historic territories that had existed before the 1952 administrative reform.
The five new states
| State | Capital | Date of re‑establishment (1990) |
|---|---|---|
| Brandenburg | Potsdam | 3 October 1990 |
| Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern | Schwerin | 3 October 1990 |
| Saxony (Sachsen) | Dresden | 3 October 1990 |
| Saxony‑Anhalt (Sachsen‑Anhalt) | Magdeburg | 3 October 1990 |
| Thuringia (Thüringen) | Erfurt | 3 October 1990 |
These states largely correspond to historic territories that existed before the division of Germany after World War II, though their modern borders differ in some areas.
Governance and constitutional status
- The new states are full members of the Federal Republic of Germany and possess the same constitutional powers as the older Länder, including legislative authority in education, policing, cultural affairs, and participation in the Bundesrat (Federal Council) based on population‑adjusted voting weights.
- Each state has its own parliament (Landtag) and government headed by a Minister‑President (Ministerpräsident).
Demographic and economic characteristics
- Population – As of the most recent census data (2022), the combined population of the new states is around 13 million, roughly 15 % of Germany’s total population.
- Economy – The new states have historically exhibited lower gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and higher unemployment rates compared to the western states. Since reunification, they have received substantial structural funds from both the German federal government and the European Union aimed at modernising infrastructure, supporting industry, and promoting research and development.
- Urban centres – Major cities include Leipzig, Dresden, and Magdeburg, which serve as economic and cultural hubs within their respective states.
Contemporary usage
- In political discourse, “new states” is often used when discussing regional disparities, federal fiscal transfers, electoral reforms, or the impact of EU cohesion policy.
- The term may also be employed in comparative studies of federalism to illustrate a case where a country enlarged its federal structure through the incorporation of previously separate territories.
Other contexts
The phrase “new states of Germany” does not denote any recent (post‑2000) creation of additional Länder. No further federal states have been added to the Federal Republic since 1990; attempts to merge or restructure existing states have been limited and have not resulted in new entities. Consequently, the term remains specifically associated with the 1990 re‑establishment of the five eastern Länder.
