Chart by ThatOnePunk Last updated: Saturday December 23rd, 2023
Below is a chart showing the development of the number of municipalities by state, from the year 1952 to the present. Through the many territorial changes, the number has greatly decreased over time. The most notable one of these is the "Gebietsreform" (territorial reform) in Bavaria, from 1971 to 1980. Altogether Germany has 10,773 municipalities and 207 "communal free" zones. (As of 1st March 2023)
The (city) states of Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg have always had 1, 2 and 1 municipalities respectively throughout the years.
Figures for Saarland from 1959 onwards; Former GDR states from 1991 onwards.
Source: Wikipedia (Statistische Jahrbücher für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland)
Have no idea what the abbreviations for the states stand for? Click here!
So this was my attempt on making my first chart, and I hope you liked it! Feel free to give suggestions on what I should do next. You can find the German version of this here.
EDIT: Apparently there was a bug where you could import more than the limit with the columns (which has now been fixed), making this chart the only one with more than 10 variables!
Rhineland-Pfalz and Schleswig-Holstein didn't really do much about the amount of their municipalities for some reason. I think it's also interesting that the amount of municipalities for every State of West-Germany stayed almost the same after 1980, but for most States of East-Germany the number is still falling to this day (especially Thuringia)
Interesting that you brought that up. Yes, it is very noticeable that the states with former territories on East Germany has been merging and reforming the municipalities greatly, even to this day. Not sure about West Germany though.
EDIT: Apparently there was a bug where you could import more than the limit with the columns (which has now been fixed), making this chart the only one with more than 10 variables!