Hamburg remains Germany’s most digital federal state: with 70.3 out of 100 points, the Hanseatic city has once again secured a clear first place in the Bitkom State Index 2026 – the digital ranking of Germany’s federal states. It is followed by Berlin (63.8 points) and Hesse (63.7 points), which has moved up to third place. Bavaria (62.6 points) and Baden-Württemberg (61.8 points) round off the top five. At the bottom of the ranking are Saxony-Anhalt (52.4 points), as well as Thuringia (51.1 points) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (51.1 points), which share 15th place.

“The Bitkom State Index shows how digitalisation can succeed in Germany’s regions. Some federal states benefit from strong economic and structural foundations, whilst others are catching up through smart policy decisions and targeted investments,” says Bitkom President Dr Ralf Wintergerst. “It is crucial that digitalisation is strategically managed, vigorously implemented and broadly embedded – in public administration, business, infrastructure and education.”

Regional differences and rising stars

The Saarland stands out particularly this year: it has jumped from 12th place in 2024 to 6th, making it the rising star of the rankings. One reason is the strong digital education provision in the state: at least six compulsory hours of computer science are scheduled in all types of school, and the proportion of computer science teachers, at 5 per cent, is above the national average of 3 per cent. The state also achieves top scores in terms of gigabit connectivity in schools.

However, regional differences are also evident in the index. Whilst northern German federal states score particularly well in terms of digital infrastructure, eastern German states lead the way in digital education. Overall, all 16 federal states were assessed on the basis of 30 indicators across four categories: Governance & Administration, Digital Infrastructure, Digital Economy and Digital Society.

A broad data base and clear comparability

For the State Index, Bitkom’s experts surveyed all 16 state governments and analysed numerous official statistics and third-party studies. In addition, Bitkom Research conducted a representative survey of more than 5,600 citizens. The results are incorporated into the four categories, comprising a total of 30 indicators.

“The State Index highlights where the states are making progress, where they have shortcomings, and how their digital strengths vary. This comparability is crucial for identifying success stories, learning from one another, and accelerating digitalisation where the opportunities are greatest,” said Wintergerst.

More information on the study results is available here or live at #SCCON26.