Einbürgerungstest topic guide
Geography of Germany (Geografie Deutschlands)
The geography facts the Einbürgerungstest tests: the 16 Bundesländer, their role in federal government, and Germany's neighbouring countries — with a real exam question.
Three of the 33 questions are about your own Land, and the general catalogue has questions about the map and the symbols of Germany. They are among the easiest points of the test.
The guide gives the 16 Bundesländer with their capitals, explains the Land questions, and covers the neighbours, the seas, the mountains and rivers and the national symbols.
The Länder and the geography of Germany
The 16 Bundesländer and their capitals, the questions about your own Land, the map of Germany and the national symbols.
What each guide covers
- The 16 Bundesländer and their capitalsGermany has 16 federal states.
- Your own Land: the 3 questions of the testIn the Einbürgerungstest, 3 of the 33 questions are about the Land in which you take the test.
- The map of GermanyGermany is in the centre of Europe, and it has the most neighbours of all the countries of the European Union.
- The national symbolsThe symbols of the Federal Republic are set in the Basic Law and in other laws.
Remember for the exam
- 16 Länder; city-states Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen; each has a Landtag and a government.
- 33 questions in the test: 30 general (from 300) and 3 about your Land (10 official for each Land).
- Nine neighbours; Nordsee and Ostsee; Zugspitze 2,962 m; Rhein, Elbe, Donau.
- Flag black-red-gold; Bundesadler; anthem “Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit”; capital Berlin.
A real Einbürgerungstest question on this topic
Q: "Wie viele Bundesländer hat die Bundesrepublik Deutschland?" (How many federal states does the Federal Republic of Germany have?) — A: "16" — one number, worth knowing perfectly since it recurs across multiple questions.
Questions people ask
Do I need to name all 16 Bundesländer and their capitals?
Not exhaustively — the exam tests the number (16), the structure (each has a Landtag and a head of government), and a few well-known specifics like the city-states, more than a full list-and-capitals memory test.
Is your own state (Bundesland) tested separately from this general topic?
Yes — the real exam adds 3 questions specific to the Bundesland where you live, on top of the 30 general questions covered here; Asagno's Einbürgerungstest learning mode lets you study your own state's 10 official questions separately.
Where can I practise every official question on this topic?
Asagno's Einbürgerungstest learning mode loads the full official question bank — nationwide plus your own Bundesland's questions — with the answer shown.
How many Länder does Germany have, and which are city-states?
There are 16 federal states. Three are city-states: Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen.
What is the highest mountain in Germany?
The Zugspitze, in Bayern, with 2,962 metres. The longest rivers that flow through Germany are the Rhine, the Elbe and the Danube.
More guides
Ready to practise?
Study the questions by theme, then take the timed practice exam.