Bavaria's Massive Size: A German Behemoth

Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a state in the southeast of Germany. Covering an area of 70,550.19 km2 (27,239.58 sq mi), it is the largest German state by land area, making up roughly a fifth of Germany's total land area. With a population of over 13 million, it is the second most populous state in Germany, after North Rhine-Westphalia. The capital and largest city of Bavaria is Munich, which is also the third-largest city in Germany. Other major cities in the state include Nuremberg and Augsburg.

How big is Bavaria compared to other German states?

Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is the largest German state by land area, covering around 70,550.19 km2 (27,232 sq mi) or roughly a fifth of Germany's total land area. It is located in the southeast of the country and shares borders with the German states of Thuringia, Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse, as well as Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

Bavaria is significantly larger than other German states. For example, Baden-Württemberg, which is the third-largest state by area, covers 35,752 km2, which is about half the size of Bavaria. Saxony, which borders Bavaria to the north, covers an area of 18,415.53 km2, which is less than a third of Bavaria's size.

Bavaria's capital, Munich, is the third-largest city in Germany and is located about 105 miles south of Nuremberg, 145 miles east of Stuttgart, and 315 miles southwest of Berlin. The state is home to about 13 million people, making it the second-most populous state in Germany after North Rhine-Westphalia.

The state can be divided into four major regions: the Alps, which form a natural border with Austria; the Alpine foothills, known for their lakes and ski resorts; the Eastern Bavarian central mountains, home to Germany's first national park; and the colourful hills of Swabia-Franconia. The major rivers flowing through Bavaria are the Danube and the Main.

How big is Bavaria compared to other countries?

Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of 70,550.19 km2 (27,239.58 sq mi), it is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total land area of Germany.

Bavaria is 1.19 times the size of Austria, 1.57 times the size of Bulgaria, 0.43 times the size of Belgium, 0.59 times the size of Switzerland, 1.12 times the size of the Czech Republic, 0.61 times the size of Denmark, 1.85 times the size of England, 0.41 times the size of Albania, 0.73 times the size of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 0.29 times the size of Lithuania.

Bavaria is also larger than several US states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

How big is the Bavarian population?

Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is the second most populous state in Germany, with over 13 million inhabitants. It is the largest German state by land area, covering approximately one-fifth of the country's total land area. Munich, the capital and largest city of Bavaria, is the third-largest city in Germany.

Bavaria has a distinct culture, largely due to its Catholic heritage and conservative traditions. About 46.9% of Bavarians are Catholic, with 17.2% adhering to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The state also has the second-largest economy among German states by GDP figures, giving it the status of a wealthy region.

Bavaria is divided into seven administrative regions: Upper Palatinate, Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, Upper Franconia, Middle Franconia, Lower Franconia, and Swabia. Munich, Nuremberg, and Augsburg are the three largest cities in the state, with populations of 1,484,226, 518,370, and 296,582, respectively.

Bavaria's population density is below the German average, with approximately 186 people per square kilometre. The state has a strong sense of pride in its traditions, and many Bavarians identify as Bavarians first and Germans second.

How big is Bavaria's economy?

Bavaria has the second-largest economy among the German states by GDP figures, giving it the status of a wealthy German region. With a GDP of €610 billion and an export volume of €168 billion (which equals a 53.5% export quota) in 2020, it ranks as the sixth-largest economy in the European Union. In terms of purchasing power, Bavaria even ranks second in the EU.

The backbone of Bavaria's economy is a vibrant population of medium-sized enterprises, many of whom are acknowledged world market leaders. However, it is also home to global players like Adidas, Allianz, BMW, and Siemens. Bavaria's advanced and strong manufacturing sector and its role as Europe's leading ICT hub put it at the forefront of cross-industry digital innovation. It is, therefore, an ideal base for national and international B2B tech leaders and start-ups.

Bavaria is a popular place to invest but also a sought-for trading partner and provider of products and services at a global level. Every second euro in the state's economy is generated from exports, with the most popular Bavarian products being automobiles, chemical products, electronics, and machines.

Bavaria's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007 exceeded €434 billion (about US $600 billion). This makes Bavaria itself one of the largest economies in Europe, and only 20 countries in the world have a higher GDP. The GDP of the region increased to €617.1 billion in 2018, accounting for 18.5% of German economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €43,500 or 145% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 114% of the EU average. This makes Bavaria one of the wealthiest regions in Europe.

Bavaria has strong economic ties with Austria, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Northern Italy. In 2019, the GDP was €832.4 ($905.7) billion, €48,323 ($52,577.3) per capita.

How big is Bavaria's beer?

Bavaria is the largest of the 16 states in Germany by land area, covering 70,550.19 square kilometres or 27,239.58 square miles. But how big is Bavaria's beer?

The Beer Gardens of Bavaria

Bavaria is home to the world-famous Oktoberfest, and beer has become one of Germany's ultimate trademarks. Almost half of all German breweries are located in Bavaria, with 647 brew houses spread across the state. With 167 breweries, Upper Franconia is the number one beer region, followed by Upper Bavaria with 136 and Swabia with 84. The small community of Aufseß in Upper Franconia has the highest density of breweries per inhabitant, with four different breweries for just 1,287 inhabitants.

The History of Beer in Bavaria

The oldest existing brewery in the world is the Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, founded over 1,000 years ago in Freising, about 40km from Munich. Beer has been brewed in Bavaria since at least the late Bronze Age, as evidenced by the discovery of an earthenware amphora in a Celtic burial mound near Kulmbach, dated to around 800 BCE.

Beer and Food in Bavaria

Beer is considered the national drink of Germany and is a staple food in Bavaria, where it is known as "liquid bread". A traditional Bavarian breakfast includes sweet mustard, a pretzel, and wheat beer. Beer is also used in cooking, such as in the dish "herb noodles with Bamberg beer onions".

Beer Styles and Varieties

Bavaria is the cradle of the world's lager beer culture, with many major beer styles emerging from the region. There are 40 different types of beer produced in Bavaria, including cellar beer, lager, wheat beer, Zoigl, Bock beer, and Bavarian Pils. One speciality is Rauchbier (smoked beer) from Bamberg in Franconia. A typical Bavarian beer is the top-fermented wheat beer, known as Weizenbier.

Beer Consumption in Bavaria

Bavarians are known as some of the world's most prolific beer drinkers, with an average annual consumption of 170 litres per person. The per capita consumption of beer in Bavaria is well above the national average of 102 litres, at 130-135 litres per year.

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