Zum 3. Oktober: Osten, Westen, Einheit? Fünf Fakten zum Stand der Dinge

Five facts about the status quo of Germany:

1. The economic gap between East and West Germany remains significant. As of 2025, the average monthly gross salary in western federal states was €4,961, compared to €4,121 in eastern federal states. While there are differences within the western states, the net difference in income between the two regions remains at 840 euros per month.

2. Wealth distribution is also uneven. In 2023, €142.5 billion in wealth was transferred or gifted in the west, while only €8 billion in the east. This disparity accounts for 95% of the total wealth in the west and only 5% in the east, despite the east's population being around 19%.

3. The demographic situation has changed since reunification. Between 1991 and 2024, approximately 1.2 million more people moved from East to West than the other way around, with a reversal trend between 2017 and 2022. Most of the migrants were young women, leading to a shortage of women in rural East Germany, with less than 70 women for every 100 men aged 18-30.

4. The economy and population have grown significantly in the west, while the east has seen a decline. Western Germany has a higher population density, with 528 people per square kilometer in North Rhine-Westphalia compared to 68 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The average net worth per household in East Germany is €125,500, while in West Germany, it's €257,100.

5. Democratic satisfaction varies between the regions. 76% of respondents in western Germany were very satisfied with democracy in 2025, while only 65% in eastern Germany were satisfied. Additionally, 62% in the west were very satisfied with the functioning of democracy, compared to 51% in the east.