Old states of Germany

Christianity is the dominant religion of Western Germany, excluding Hamburg, which has a non-religious plurality. On the other hand, Irreligion is predominant in the Eastern part of Germany, considered to be the least religious region in the world.[2][3][4] An exception is former West Berlin, that had a Christian plurality in 2016 (44.4% Christian and 43.5% Unaffiliated). It also has a higher share of Muslims, or 8.5%, compared to former East Berlin, with only 1.5% self-declared Muslims as of 2016.[1]

Religion by state, 2016[1]	Protestants	Catholics	Not religious	Muslims	Others
Baden-Württemberg	37.6%	40.6%	16.4%	2.5%	3.0%
Bavaria	23.4%	58.6%	15.6%	1.1%	1.3%
Bremen	51.8%	7.8%	39.1%	0.0%	1.3%
former West Berlin	32.0%	12.4%	43.5%	8.5%	3.5%
Hamburg	34.3%	9.0%	44.1%	10.9%	1.7%
Hesse	50.2%	21.7%	22.2%	3.8%	2.1%
Lower Saxony	53.8%	18.7%	24.1%	2.5%	0.9%
North Rhine-Westphalia	30.9%	44.6%	18.1%	4.4%	2.0%
Rhineland-Palatinate	34.8%	42.4%	19.6%	1.0%	2.1%
Saarland	22.3%	68.1%	8.2%	1.4%	0.0%
Schleswig-Holstein	61.5%	3.2%	31.3%	2.2%	1.7%
Total	36.7%	38.2%	20.3%	3.0%	1.9%

• 
  Most West Germans are Christians (2011).
• 
  Evangelical population according to the 2011 census
• 
  Catholic population according to the 2011 census
• 
  Non-religious population according to the 2011 census (including other religions and not specified)

Pro Reli

Results of the Referendum Pro Reli by district:

---

  Over 60% yes votes of the participants and over 25% of the voters

  over 60% yes votes of the participants and under 25% of the voters

  over 50% no votes of the participants and under 25% yes votes of the voters

  over 70% no votes of the participants and under 25% yes votes of the voters

In the referendum on the introduction of the elective area of ethics/religion, where the dominant in West Berlin CDU and FDP to Yes against the Greens (with the exception of their "working group Christians")[5] and SPD[6] have called No, have in West Berlin 58.58% for the Introduction of religious education. (in East Berlin, a total of 74.62% voted no).

The standard of living and annual income remains significantly higher in the old federal states.[7] In West Germany, there is more income than in the East.[8]

In West Germany, there are smaller farms than in the east.[8]

In the West there are fewer unemployed than in the former East Germany.[9][10]

• 
  The socio-demographic development of Germany after reunification
• 
  Unemployment rate in Germany in 2003 by states.
• 
  Nominal GDP per capita, 2015 Eurostat

Participation by constituency 2017

In the West and West Berlin[11] the Union, SPD, FDP and Greens stronger, on the other hand right-wing populist parties and The Left weaker than in the east.[12][13]

Unlike in the East, there are not 3 or since 2016 4 equally strong parties but a "two-party dominance" of the SPD and CDU.[14]

A study of the University of Berlin from 1998/99 comes to 13% for the whole of Germany, and 12% for the West and 17% for the East for right-wing extremist recruitment potential.[15] In the 2017 Federal Election, AfD reached ~ 22%[16] in the East and ~ 11%[17] in the West.[18]

There are also higher voter turnouts in the West.[14]

• 
  Social Democrats (SPD)
• 
  Free Democrats (FDP)
• 
  The Greens
• 
  Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU)

The population density of the new German states is lower than that of the old states.

In the old states the average age is lower than in the east.[8]

• Western Germany
• New states of Germany
• Wessi