Municipalities (, ; singular ) are the lowest level of official territorial division in Germany. This can be the second, third, fourth or fifth level of territorial division, depending on the status of the municipality and the Land (federal state) it is part of. The city-states Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg are second-level divisions. A Gemeinde is one level lower in those states which also include (singular: ) as an intermediate territorial division (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia). The Gemeinde is one level higher if it is not part of a Gemeindeverband ("municipal association"). !! Municipalities with town status !! Average area (km<sup>2</sup>) The same trend occurred in the New states of Germany after the German reunification: from 7,612 municipalities in 1990 to 2,380 as of 1 January 2024. As of 2025, there are a total of 462 municipalities with special status.

  • town (): a municipality with the right to call itself "Stadt". The title "Stadt" does not imply any duties or rights anymore. Many towns received town privileges in the Middle Ages, others were elevated to town status more recently because they reached a certain size, e.g. more than 10,000 inhabitants
  • market town (Markt): a type of municipality unique to Bavaria, can be part of a municipal association or not, is considered to be between municipality (Gemeinde) and town (Stadt). In the Middle Ages the title was given to municipalities with the right to hold markets (Marktrecht). Today usually implies that the municipality holds a central location/status in providing services to local communities. As of 2025, there are 386 Markts in Bavaria.
  • municipality forming part of a municipal association (, , or in Rhineland-Palatinate): a municipality with a mayor and a municipal council, but no other administrative institutions. Administrative duties are performed by the Gemeindeverband ("municipal association")

The office of mayor is full-time () in larger municipalities, and voluntary () in smaller municipalities, for instance those that are part of a municipal association. Mayors are elected for a specific term, which is different in every state. Since mayoral elections also have to be held when a mayor resigns from office, these do not take place at the same time for all municipalities in a state. The terms for mayors are:

  • Baden-Württemberg: 8 years
  • Bavaria, Hesse, Thuringia: 6 years
  • Berlin, Hamburg: 5 years, indirect elections
  • Brandenburg, Rhineland-Palatinate: 8 years for full-time mayors, 5 years for voluntary mayors
  • Bremen: 4-6 years, indirect elections
  • Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia: 5 years
  • Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: 7-9 years for full-time mayors, 5 years for voluntary mayors
  • Saarland: 10 years
  • Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt: 7 years
  • Schleswig-Holstein: 6-8 years for full-time mayors, 5 years for voluntary mayors

See also

  • List of municipalities in Germany

References