knowledge Overview
The Free State of Thuringia lies in the centre of Germany and, because of its wealth of forests (including the Thuringian Forest), is called the "green heart of Germany". The state capital is Erfurt. The state covers around 16,200 km² and has about 2.12 million inhabitants (2022 census). Its ISO-3166-2 code is DE-TH. Thuringia joined the Federal Republic in 1990 in the course of reunification.
Administrative divisions
The three district governments established in 1990 in Erfurt, Gera and Suhl were dissolved as early as 1994; since then there have been no government regions. Below the state level there are 17 rural districts and 5 urban districts (Erfurt, Gera, Jena, Suhl, Weimar); Eisenach lost its urban district status in 2021 and belongs to the Wartburgkreis.
Major cities
- Erfurt (around 215,000 inhabitants)
- Jena (around 110,000 inhabitants)
- Gera (around 95,000 inhabitants)
- Weimar (around 65,000 inhabitants)
Transport
Since the upgrading of the Thuringian Railway, Erfurt has been a central ICE hub between Frankfurt, Leipzig and Berlin; the A 4 and A 9 cross at the Hermsdorfer Kreuz. Denser rail connections also link Weimar and Jena.
Economy
Important are the optics and photonics industry (Zeiss in Jena), automotive supply, the glass and ceramics industry and tourism in the Thuringian Forest (including the Wartburg and the Rennsteig).