Germany is a federal republic that consists of sixteen states (German: Land, plural Lander; commonly informally Bundesland and Bundeslander). Germany was formed from an earlier collection of several states, so it has a federal constitution, and the constituent states retain some sovereignty.

With an emphasis on geographical conditions, Berlin and Hamburg are often called Stadtstaaten (city-states), as is the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, which actually includes the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven. The remaining 13 states are called Flachenlander (which literally means: “area states”).