View source for North Rhine-Westphalia

{{Short description|State in Germany}}
{{Distinguish|Rhineland-Palatinate}}
{{Redirect|NRW}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| official_name      = North Rhine-Westphalia
| native_name        = <small>{{native name|de|Nordrhein-Westfalen}}<br />{{native name|nds|Noordryn-Westfaulen}}</small>
| native_name_lang   = 
| settlement_type    = [[States of Germany|State]]
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 270px
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg
| flag_size          = 120px
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of North Rhine-Westfalia.svg
| shield_size        = 75px
| anthem             = 
| image_map          = {{maplink|frame=y|plain=yes|frame-align=center|zoom=5|type=shape<!--line-->|id=|stroke-color=|stroke-width=2|frame-lat=51.1|frame-long=10.5|frame-width=250|frame-height=300}}
| mapsize            = 155px
| map_caption        = 
| coordinates        = {{Coord|51|28|N|7|33|E|type:adm1st_region:DE-NRW|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Germany]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = [[History of North Rhine-Westphalia|23 August 1946]]
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Düsseldorf]]
| seat1_type         = Largest city
| seat1              = [[Cologne]]
| governing_body     = [[Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia]]
| leader_party       = CDU
| leader_title       = [[Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia|Minister-President]]
| leader_name        = [[Hendrik Wüst]]
| leader_title1      = Governing parties
| leader_name1       = {{Polparty|Germany|CDU}} / {{Polparty|Germany|Greens}}
| leader_title2      = [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat votes]]
| leader_name2       = 6 (of 69)
| leader_title3      = [[Bundestag|Bundestag seats]]
| leader_name3       = [[Results of the 2025 German federal election#North Rhine-Westphalia|136 (of 630)]] <small>(as of 2025)</small>
| total_type         = Total
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Fläche und Bevölkerung |url=https://www.statistikportal.de/de/bevoelkerung/flaeche-und-bevoelkerung |access-date=2025-06-18|website=Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder |language=de}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 34112.72
| elevation_m        = 
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=Bevölkerung in Nordrhein-Westfalen |url=https://www.it.nrw/node/315/pdf |website=Landesbetrieb IT.NRW |access-date=13 October 2023}}</ref>
| population_rank    = [[States_of_Germany#List|1st in Germany]]
| population_total   = 18152449
| population_as_of   = 2023-06-30
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_demonym = 
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="destatis">{{cite web |date=2025-03-28 |title=Bruttoinlandsprodukt, Bruttowertschöpfung |url=https://www.statistikportal.de/de/vgrdl/ergebnisse-laenderebene/bruttoinlandsprodukt-bruttowertschoepfung/bip#9517 |trans-title=Gross domestic product, gross value added |website=statistikportal.de |language=de |publisher=Statistisches Bundesamt Obere Bundesbehörde im Geschäftsbereich des Bundesministeriums des Innern und für Heimat |access-date=2025-04-08}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €871.867 billion (2024)
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = €47,916 (2024)
| timezone1          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1        = +1
| timezone1_DST      = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +2
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| area_code_type     = 
| area_code          = 
| registration_plate = 
| blank1_name_sec2   = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2022)
| blank1_info_sec2   = 0.946<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/DEU/ |title=Subnational HDI |website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=18 June 2025}}</ref><br />{{color|green|very high}} · [[List of German states by Human Development Index|7th of 16]]
| iso_code           = DE-NW
| blank_name_sec2    = [[First level NUTS of the European Union#Germany|NUTS Region]]
| blank_info_sec2    = DEA
| website            = {{url|https://www.land.nrw/english}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''North Rhine-Westphalia''' or '''North-Rhine/Westphalia''',{{efn|({{langx|de|Nordrhein-Westfalen}}, {{IPA|de|ˌnɔʁtʁaɪn vɛstˈfaːlən|pron|De-Nordrhein-Westfalen2.ogg}}; {{langx|li|Noordrien-Wesfale}} {{IPA|li|ˈnoːʀtʀiːn wæsˈfaːlə|}};{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} {{langx|nds|Noordryn-Westfaulen}} or {{lang|nds|Noordrhien-Westfalen}}{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}}} commonly shortened to '''NRW''',{{efn|{{IPA|de|ɛnʔɛʁˈveː|lang|De-NRW.ogg}}}} is a [[States of Germany|state]] ({{lang|de|Land}}) in [[Old states of Germany|Western Germany]]. With more than 18 million inhabitants, it is the [[List of German states by population|most populous]] state in Germany. Apart from the city-states ([[Berlin]], [[Hamburg]] and [[Bremen (state)|Bremen]]), it is also the [[List of German states by population density|most densely]] populated state in Germany. Covering an area of {{convert|34084|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it is the [[List of German states by area|fourth-largest]] German state by size.

North Rhine-Westphalia features 30 of the 81 German municipalities with over 100,000 inhabitants, including [[Cologne]] (over 1 million), the state capital [[Düsseldorf]] (630,000), [[Dortmund]] and [[Essen]] (about 590,000 inhabitants each) and other cities predominantly located in the [[Rhine-Ruhr]] [[metropolitan area]], the largest urban area in Germany and the fourth-largest on the [[European continent]]. The location of the Rhine-Ruhr at the heart of the European [[Blue Banana]] makes it well connected to other major European cities and metropolitan areas like the [[Randstad]], the [[Flemish Diamond]] and the [[Frankfurt Rhine-Main Region]].

North Rhine-Westphalia was established in 1946 after [[World War II]] from the [[Prussia]]n provinces of [[Province of Westphalia|Westphalia]] and the northern part of [[Rhine Province]] ([[North Rhine]]), and the [[Free State of Lippe]] by the [[British occupation zone in Germany|British military administration]] in [[Allied-occupied Germany]] and became a state of the [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]] in 1949. The city of [[Bonn]] served as the federal capital until the [[reunification of Germany]] in 1990 and as the [[seat of government]] until 1999.

Culturally, North Rhine-Westphalia is not a uniform area; there are significant differences, especially in traditional customs, between the Rhineland region on the one hand and the regions of Westphalia and Lippe on the other. [[Economy of North Rhine-Westphalia|Its economy]] is the largest among [[List of German states by GRDP|German states by GRDP]] but is below the national average [[List of German states by GRDP per capita|in GRDP per capita]].

==History==
{{Main|History of North Rhine-Westphalia}}

===Creation===
[[File:Locator_map_North_Rhine-Westphalia_in_Germany.svg|thumb|Additional map exhibiting the region]]
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia was established by the [[Allied-occupied Germany|British military administration]]'s "Operation Marriage" on 23 August 1946 by merging the [[province of Westphalia]] and the northern parts of the [[Rhine Province]], both being political divisions of the former [[state of Prussia]] within the [[German Reich]].<ref name="HistoryNRW">{{cite web|title=History of North Rhine-Westphalia|url=http://www.nrw.de/en/north-rhine-westphalia/history/|publisher=Government of North Rhine-Westphalia|access-date=10 April 2011}}</ref><ref name=DWNRW>{{cite news|last=Wagener|first=Volker|title=North Rhine-Westphalia: an overview|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3901456,00.html|access-date=26 July 2011|newspaper=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=18 November 2009}}</ref> On 21 January 1947, the former state of [[Lippe (state)|Lippe]] was merged with North Rhine-Westphalia.<ref name="HistoryNRW"/> The [[constitution of North Rhine-Westphalia]] was then ratified through a [[referendum]].

===Rhineland===
{{Main|Rhineland}}
The first written account of the area was by its conqueror, [[Julius Caesar]], the territories west of the Rhine were occupied by the [[Eburones]] and east of the Rhine he reported the [[Ubii]] (across from Cologne) and the [[Sugambri]] to their north. The Ubii and some other Germanic tribes such as the [[Cugerni]] were later settled on the west side of the Rhine in the Roman province of [[Germania Inferior]]. Julius Caesar conquered the tribes on the left bank, and Augustus established numerous fortified posts on the Rhine, but the Romans never succeeded in gaining a firm footing on the right bank, where the Sugambri neighboured several other tribes including the [[Tencteri]] and [[Usipetes]]. North of the Sigambri and the Rhine region were the [[Bructeri]].

As the power of the [[Roman Empire]] declined, many of these tribes came to be seen collectively as [[Ripuarian Franks]] and they pushed forward along both banks of the Rhine, and by the end of the fifth century had conquered all the lands that had formerly been under Roman influence. By the eighth century, the Frankish dominion was firmly established in western Germany and northern Gaul, but at the same time, to the north, Westphalia was being taken over by [[Saxons]] pushing south.

The [[Merovingians|Merovingian]] and [[Carolingians|Carolingian]] Franks eventually built an empire which controlled first their Ripuarian kin, and then the Saxons. On the division of the [[Carolingian Empire]] at the [[Treaty of Verdun]], the part of the province to the east of the river fell to [[East Francia]], while that to the west remained with the kingdom of [[Lotharingia]].<ref name="eb1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Rhine Province}}</ref>

By the time of [[Otto I]] (d. 973), both banks of the Rhine had become part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]], and the Rhenish territory was divided between the duchies of [[Upper Lorraine]] on the [[Moselle]] and [[Lower Lorraine]] on the Meuse. The [[Ottonian dynasty]] had both Saxon and Frankish ancestry.

[[File:1801 Cary Map of Westphalia, Germany - Geographicus - Westphalia-cary-1799.jpg|thumb|Map of the [[Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle]] in 1799 by [[John Cary]]]] 
As the central power of the [[Holy Roman Emperor]] weakened, the Rhineland split into numerous small, independent, separate vicissitudes and special chronicles. The old Lotharingian divisions became obsolete, although the name survives for example in [[Lorraine (region)|Lorraine]] in France, and throughout the Middle Ages and even into modern times, the nobility of these areas often sought to preserve the idea of a preeminent [[duke]] within Lotharingia, something claimed by the [[Duchy of Limburg|Dukes of Limburg]], and the [[Duchy of Brabant|Dukes of Brabant]]. Such struggles as the [[War of the Limburg Succession]] therefore continued to create military and political links between what is now Rhineland-Westphalia and neighbouring [[Belgium]] and the [[Netherlands]].

In spite of its dismembered condition and the sufferings it underwent at the hands of its French neighbours in various periods of warfare, the Rhenish territory prospered greatly and stood in the foremost rank of German culture and progress. [[Aachen]] was the place of coronation of the German emperors, and the ecclesiastical principalities of the Rhine bulked largely in German history.<ref name="eb1911"/>

Prussia first set foot on the Rhine in 1609 by the occupation of the [[Duchy of Cleves]] and about a century later [[Prussian Guelders|Upper Guelders]] and [[Moers]] also became Prussian. At the [[Peace of Basel]] in 1795, the whole of the [[left bank of the Rhine]] was resigned to France, and in 1806, the Rhenish princes all joined the [[Confederation of the Rhine]].

After the [[Congress of Vienna]], Prussia was awarded the entire [[Rhineland]], which included the [[Grand Duchy of Berg]], the ecclesiastic electorates of [[Electorate of Trier|Trier]] and [[Electorate of Cologne|Cologne]], the free cities of [[Aachen]] and Cologne, and nearly a hundred small lordships and abbeys. The Prussian [[Rhine province]] was formed in 1822 and Prussia had the tact to leave the lower Rhenish districts in undisturbed possession of the liberal institutions to which they had become accustomed under the republican rule of the French.<ref name="eb1911"/> In 1920, the districts of [[Eupen]] and [[Malmedy]] were transferred to Belgium (see [[German-speaking Community of Belgium]]).

===Westphalia===
{{Main|Westphalia}}
Around AD&nbsp;1, numerous incursions occurred through Westphalia and perhaps even some permanent [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] or Romanized settlements. The [[Battle of Teutoburg Forest]] took place near Osnabrück and some of the [[Germanic tribes]] who fought at this battle came from the area of Westphalia. [[Charlemagne]] is thought to have spent considerable time in [[Paderborn]] and nearby parts. His [[Saxon Wars]] also partly took place in what is thought of as Westphalia today. Popular legends link his adversary [[Widukind]] to places near [[Detmold]], [[Bielefeld]], [[Lemgo]], Osnabrück, and other places in Westphalia. Widukind was buried in [[Enger]], which is also a subject of a legend.

Along with [[Angria]], [[Eastphalia]], and [[Nordalbingia]], Westphalia (''Westfalahi'') was originally a district of the [[Duchy of Saxony]]. In 1180, Westphalia was elevated to the rank of a duchy by Emperor [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Barbarossa]]. The [[Duchy of Westphalia]] comprised only a small area south of the [[Lippe River]].

[[File:Westfaelischer Friede in Muenster (Gerard Terborch 1648).jpg|thumb|Ratification of the [[Peace of Westphalia]] of 1648 in [[Münster]] by Gerard Terborch]]
Parts of Westphalia came under [[Brandenburg-Prussia]]n control during the 17th and 18th centuries, but most of it remained divided duchies and other feudal areas of power. The [[Peace of Westphalia]] of 1648, signed in Münster and Osnabrück, ended the [[Thirty Years' War]]. The concept of nation-state sovereignty resulting from the treaty became known as "[[Westphalian sovereignty]]".

As a result of the [[Protestant Reformation]], there is no dominant religion in Westphalia. Catholicism and [[Lutheranism]] are on relatively equal footing. Lutheranism is strong in the eastern and northern parts with numerous free churches. [[Münster]] and especially [[Paderborn]] are thought of as Catholic. Osnabrück is divided almost equally between Catholicism and Protestantism.

After the defeat of the [[Prussian Army]] at the [[Battle of Jena-Auerstedt]], the [[Treaties of Tilsit|Treaty of Tilsit]] in 1807 made the Westphalian territories part of the [[Kingdom of Westphalia]] from 1807 to 1813. It was founded by [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]] and was a [[First French Empire|French]] [[vassal state]]. This state only shared the name with the historical region; it contained only a relatively small part of Westphalia, consisting instead mostly of [[Hesse|Hessian]] and [[Eastphalia]]n regions.

After the [[Congress of Vienna]], the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] received a large amount of territory in the Westphalian region and created the [[province of Westphalia]] in 1815. The northernmost portions of the former kingdom, including the town of [[Osnabrück]], had become part of the states of [[Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover]] and [[Grand Duchy of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]].

==Flags and coat of arms==
The [[flag of North Rhine-Westphalia]] is green-white-red with the combined coats of arms of the [[Rhineland]] (white line before green background, symbolizing the river Rhine), [[Westfalen]] (the white horse) and [[Lippe (district)|Lippe]] (the red rose). After the establishment of North Rhine-Westphalia in 1946, the tricolor was first introduced in 1948, but was not formally adopted until 1953.<ref name="flag1953">{{cite web |author=Government of North Rhine-Westphalia  |url=http://sgv.im.nrw.de/lmi/owa/pl_text_anzeigen?v_id=1220040120130647172 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050312154959/http://sgv.im.nrw.de/lmi/owa/pl_text_anzeigen?v_id=1220040120130647172 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 March 2005 |title=Gesetz über die Landesfarben, das Landeswappen und die Landesflagge |language=de |date=10 March 1953  |access-date=10 February 2008}}</ref> The plain variant of the tricolor is considered the [[civil flag]] and state ensign, while government authorities use the [[state flag]] (''Landesdienstflagge'') which is defaced with the [[coat of arms of North Rhine-Westphalia|state's coat of arms]].<ref name="flag1953"/> The state ensign can easily be mistaken for a distressed [[flag of Hungary]], as well as the former national [[flag of Iran]] (1964–1980). The same flag was used by the [[Rhenish Republic]] (1923–1924) as a symbol of independence and freedom.

The horse on the coat of arms is a reference to the [[Saxon Steed]], a heraldic motif associated with both Westphalia and [[Lower Saxony]]. The horse first featured in the 15th century coat of arms of the Duchy of Westphalia, before being inherited by the Prussian province of Westphalia and finally the modern state of North Rhine-Westphalia.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lloyd |first=James |date=2017 |title=The Saxon Steed and the White Horse of Kent |url=https://kentarchaeology.org.uk/node/78530 |journal=Archaeologia Cantiana |volume=138 |pages=1}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:North Rhine-Westphalia Topography 08.png|upright=1.3|thumb|left|Geographic map of North Rhine-Westphalia]]

North Rhine-Westphalia encompasses the plains of the [[Lower Rhine]] region and parts of the [[Central Uplands]] (''[[die Mittelgebirge]]'') up to the gorge of [[Porta Westfalica (gorge)|Porta Westfalica]]. The state covers an area of {{convert|34,083|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and shares borders with [[Belgium]] ([[Wallonia]]) in the southwest and the [[Netherlands]] ([[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]], [[Gelderland]] and [[Overijssel]]) in the west and northwest. It has borders with the German states of [[Lower Saxony]] to the north and northeast, [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] to the south and [[Hesse]] to the southeast.

Approximately half of the state is located in the relative low-lying terrain of the [[Westphalian Lowland]] and the [[Rhineland]], both extending broadly into the [[North German Plain]]. A few isolated hill ranges are located within these lowlands, among them the Hohe Mark, the [[Beckum Hills]], the [[Baumberge]] and the [[Stemweder Berg|Stemmer Berge]]. The terrain rises towards the south and in the east of the state into parts of Germany's [[Central Uplands]]. These hill ranges are the [[Weser Uplands]] – including the [[Egge Hills]], the [[Wiehen Hills]], the [[Wesergebirge]] and the [[Teutoburg Forest]] in the east, the [[Sauerland]], the [[Bergisches Land]], the [[Siegerland]] and the [[Siebengebirge]] in the south, as well as the left-Rhenish [[Eifel]] in the southwest of the state. The [[Rothaargebirge]] in the border region with [[Hesse]] rises to height of about 800 m above sea level. The highest of these mountains are the [[Langenberg (Rothaargebirge)|Langenberg]], at 843.2 m above sea level, the [[Kahler Asten]] (840.7 m) and the Clemensberg (839.2 m).

[[File:Kahler Asten von Norden.jpg|thumb|The highest peaks in North Rhine-Westphalia are located in the Rothaar Mountains.]]

The planimetrically determined centre of North Rhine-Westphalia is located in the south of Dortmund-[[Aplerbeck]] in the Aplerbecker Mark (51° 28' N, 7° 33' Ö). Its westernmost point is situated near [[Selfkant]] close to the Dutch border, the easternmost near [[Höxter]] on the [[Weser]]. The southernmost point lies near [[Hellenthal]] in the [[Eifel]] region. The northernmost point is the NRW-Nordpunkt near [[Rahden]] in the northeast of the state. The Nordpunkt has located the only 100&nbsp;km to the south of the North Sea coast. The deepest natural dip is arranged in the district Zyfflich in the city of [[Kranenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia|Kranenburg]] with 9.2 m above sea level in the northwest of the state. Though, the deepest point overground results from mining. The open-pit Hambach reaches at [[Niederzier]] a deep of 293 m below sea level. At the same time, this is the deepest human-made dip in Germany.

The most important rivers flowing at least partially through North Rhine-Westphalia include: the [[Rhine]], the [[Ruhr (river)|Ruhr]], the [[Ems (river)|Ems]], the [[Lippe River|Lippe]], and the [[Weser]]. The Rhine is by far the most important river in North Rhine-Westphalia: it enters the state as [[Middle Rhine]] near Bad Honnef, where still being part of the [[Mittelrhein (wine region)|Mittelrhein wine region]]. It changes into the [[Lower Rhine]] near Bad Godesberg and leaves North Rhine-Westphalia near Emmerich at a width of 730 metres. Almost immediately after entering the Netherlands, the Rhine splits into many branches.

The [[Pader (river)|Pader]], which flows entirely within the city of [[Paderborn]], is considered Germany's shortest river.

For many, North Rhine-Westphalia is synonymous with industrial areas and urban agglomerations. However, the largest part of the state is used for agriculture (almost 52%) and forests (25%).<ref>Tatsachen über Deutschland (2003) ''Nordrhein-Westfalen'', p.&nbsp;44</ref>

=== Subdivisions ===
{{See also|List of places in North Rhine-Westphalia}}
[[File:Landesgrenze zu Nordrhein-Westfalen.jpg|thumb|State border with North Rhine-Westphalia near [[Warburg]]; in the background the [[Desenberg]], with 345 m landmark and highest point in the Warburger Börde near the [[border triangle]] NRW - [[Hesse]] - [[Lower Saxony]]]]

The state consists of five [[Regierungsbezirk|government regions]] (''Regierungsbezirke''), divided into 31 districts (''[[Districts of Germany|Kreise]]'') and 23 [[Urban districts of Germany|urban districts]] (''kreisfreie Städte''). In total, North Rhine-Westphalia has 396 municipalities (1997), including the urban districts, which are municipalities by themselves. The government regions have an assembly elected by the districts and municipalities, while the ''Landschaftsverband'' has a directly elected assembly.

The five government regions of North Rhine-Westphalia each belong to one of the two ''[[States of Germany#Area associations (Landschaftsverbände)|Landschaftsverbände]]'':

{| class="wikitable" style="clear: both"
|- style="vertical-align:top"
! colspan="3" | {{nobold|Landschaftsverband}} [[:de:Landschaftsverband Rheinland|Rhineland]] 
! colspan="3" | {{nobold|Landschaftsverband}} [[:de:Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe|Westfalen-Lippe]] 
| rowspan="5" style="font-size:88%" | [[File:North rhine w Landschaftsverbände.svg|300px]] <br />The [[States of Germany#Area associations (Landschaftsverbände)|regional authorities]] [[:de:Landschaftsverband Rheinland|Rhineland]] (green) and <br />[[:de:Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe|Westphalia-Lippe]] (red)
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center" |[[Regierungsbezirk|Government districts]] <br /><small>(Regierungsbezirke)</small> || style="text-align:center" |  historical regions || colspan="2" style="text-align:center" |[[Regierungsbezirk|Government districts]] <br /><small>(Regierungsbezirke)</small> || style="text-align:center" |  historical regions
|-
| style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center" | '''[[Düsseldorf (region)|Düsseldorf]]''' || [[File:RB Düsseldorf.svg|center|60px|Regierungsbezirk Düsseldorf]] || style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="3"| 
*[[Rhineland]]
**[[Bergisches Land]]
**[[Eifel]]
**[[Aachen]]
**[[Lower Rhine]]
**Rheinschiene
**[[Cologne/Bonn region|Cologne/Bonn]]
| style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center" |'''[[Arnsberg (region)|Arnsberg]]''' || [[File:NRW rbarnsberg grey.png|center|60px|Regierungsbezirk Arnsberg]] || style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="3"| 
*[[Westphalia]]
**[[Münster (region)|Münsterland]]
**[[Minden-Ravensberg]]
**[[Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn|Prince-Bishopric Paderborn]]
**[[Sauerland]]
**[[Siegerland]]
**Tecklenburger Land
*[[Lippe (district)|Lippe]]
**Lipper Land, the region <br />of the ancient free state
|-
| style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center" |'''[[Cologne (region)|Köln]]''' || [[File:NRW rbkoeln grey.png|center|60px|Regierungsbezirk Köln]] || style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center" |'''[[Detmold (region)|Detmold]]''' || [[File:RB Detmold.svg|center|60px|Regierungsbezirk Detmold]] 
|-
||  ||  || style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center" |'''[[Münster (region)|Münster]]''' || [[File:NRW rbmuenster grey.png|center|60px|Regierungsbezirk Münster]]
|}

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Rural Districts {{nobold|(Kreise)}} || Urban Districts {{nobold|(Kreisfreie Städte)}} 
| rowspan="2" | [[File:NRW districts.png|300px]]
|-
| style="vertical-align:top" | 
# [[File:DEU Staedteregion Aachen COA.svg|20px]] [[Aachen (district)|Aachen Städteregion]]
# [[File:Wappen Kreis Borken.svg|20px]] [[Borken (district)|Borken]]
# [[File:Kreis Coesfeld coa.svg|20px]] [[Coesfeld (district)|Coesfeld]]
# [[File:DEU Kreis Düren COA.svg|20px]] [[Düren (district)|Düren]]
# [[File:Wappen des Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreises.svg|20px]] [[Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis]]
# [[File:Wappen rheinerftkreis.svg|20px]] [[Rhein-Erft-Kreis]]
# [[File:Wappen Kreis Euskirchen.svg|20px]] [[Euskirchen (district)|Euskirchen]]
# [[File:Kreiswappen des Kreises Gütersloh.svg|20px]] [[Gütersloh (district)|Gütersloh]]
# [[File:DEU Kreis Heinsberg COA.svg|20px]] [[Heinsberg (district)|Heinsberg]]
# [[File:Kreiswappen des Kreises Herford.svg|20px]] [[Herford (district)|Herford]]
# [[File:Kreiswappen Hochsauerlandkreis.svg|20px]] [[Hochsauerland]]kreis 
# [[File:Kreiswappen des Kreises Höxter.svg|20px]] [[Höxter (district)|Höxter]]
# [[File:Kreiswappen des Kreises Kleve.svg|20px]] [[Cleves (district)|Kleve]]
# [[File:Kreiswappen des Kreises Lippe.svg|20px]] [[Lippe (district)|Lippe]]
# [[File:Kreiswappen des Märkischen Kreises.svg|20px]] [[Märkischer Kreis]]
# [[File:DEU Kreis Mettmann COA.svg|20px]] [[Mettmann (district)|Mettmann]]
# [[File:Kreiswappen des Kreises Minden-Lübbecke.svg|20px]] [[Minden-Lübbecke]]
# [[File:Kreiswappen des Rhein-Kreises Neuss.svg|20px]] [[Rhein-Kreis Neuss]]
# [[File:DEU Oberbergischer Kreis COA.svg|20px]] [[Oberbergischer Kreis]]
# [[File:Wappen des Kreises Olpe.svg|20px]] [[Olpe (district)|Olpe]]
# [[File:Kreiswappen des Kreises Paderborn.svg|20px]] [[Paderborn (district)|Paderborn]]
# [[File:Kreis Recklinghausen Wappen.svg|20px]] [[Recklinghausen (district)|Recklinghausen]]
# [[File:DEU Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis COA.svg|20px]] [[Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis|Rheinisch-<wbr>Bergischer Kreis]]
# [[File:DEU Rhein-Sieg-Kreis HS COA.svg|20px]] [[Rhein-Sieg-Kreis]]
# [[File:Coats of arms from the Kreis Siegen-Wittgenstein.svg|20px]] [[Siegen-Wittgenstein]]
# [[File:DE Kreis Soest COA.svg|20px]] [[Soest (district)|Soest]]
# [[File:DEU Kreis Steinfurt COA.svg|20px]] [[Steinfurt (district)|Steinfurt]]
# [[File:Wappen Kreis Unna.svg|20px]] [[Unna (district)|Unna]]
# [[File:DEU Kreis Viersen COA.svg|20px]] [[Viersen (district)|Viersen]]
# [[File:Wappen des Kreises Warendorf.svg|20px]] [[Warendorf (district)|Warendorf]]
# [[File:Kreiswappen des Kreises Wesel.svg|20px]] [[Wesel (district)|Wesel]]
| style="vertical-align:top" | 
# {{Coat of arms|Aachen}}
# [[File:DEU Bielefeld COA.svg|20px]] [[Bielefeld]]
# {{Coat of arms|Bochum}}
# {{Coat of arms|Bonn}}
# [[File:DEU Bottrop COA.svg|20px]] [[Bottrop]]
# {{Coat of arms|Dortmund}}
# {{Coat of arms|Duisburg}}
# {{Coat of arms|Düsseldorf}}
# {{Coat of arms|Essen}}
# [[File:DEU Gelsenkirchen COA.svg|20px]] [[Gelsenkirchen]]
# [[File:Stadtwappen der kreisfreien Stadt Hagen.png|20px]] [[Hagen]]
# [[File:DEU Hamm COA.svg|20px]] [[Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia|Hamm]]
# [[File:Herne Coat of Arms.svg|20px]] [[Herne, Germany|Herne]]
# {{Coat of arms|Cologne}} / Köln
# [[File:DEU Krefeld COA.svg|20px]] [[Krefeld]]
# [[File:DEU Leverkusen COA.svg|20px]] [[Leverkusen]]
# {{Coat of arms|Mönchengladbach}}
# [[File:DEU Mülheim an der Ruhr COA.svg|20px]] [[Mülheim]]
# {{Coat of arms|Münster}}
# [[File:DEU Oberhausen COA.svg|20px]] [[Oberhausen]]
# [[File:DEU Remscheid COA.svg|20px]] [[Remscheid]]
# [[File:Solingen wappen.svg|20px]] [[Solingen]]
# {{Coat of arms|Wuppertal}}
|}

=== Borders ===
The state's area covers a maximum distance of 291&nbsp;km from north to south, and 266&nbsp;km from east to west. The total length of the state's borders is 1,645&nbsp;km. The following countries and states have a border with North Rhine-Westphalia:<ref>Length of borders taken from Statistisches Jahrbuch NRW 2005, 47. Jahrgang, ''Landesamt für Datenverarbeitung und Statistik Nordrhein-Westfalen'', p.&nbsp;22</ref>
* [[Belgium]] (99&nbsp;km)
* [[Netherlands]] (387&nbsp;km)
* [[Lower Saxony]] (583&nbsp;km)
* [[Hesse]] (269&nbsp;km)
* [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] (307&nbsp;km)

==Demographics==
<!-- These two images can be replaced by daytime photos if available and/or wanted. -->{{See also|List of cities in North Rhine-Westphalia by population}}

[[File:Stadtbild Köln (50MP).jpg|thumb|[[Cologne]]]]
[[File:Düsseldorf-Altstadt.png|thumb|[[Düsseldorf]]]]

North Rhine-Westphalia has a population of approximately 18.1 million inhabitants (more than the entire [[former East Germany]], and slightly more than the [[Netherlands]]) and is centred around the polycentric [[Rhine-Ruhr]] [[Metropolitan regions in Germany|metropolitan region]], which includes the industrial [[Ruhr]] region with the largest city of [[Dortmund]] and the Rhenish cities of [[Bonn]], [[Cologne]] and [[Düsseldorf]]. 30 of the [[List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants|80 largest cities in Germany]] are located within North Rhine-Westphalia. The state's capital is Düsseldorf; the state's largest city is Cologne. In 2022, there were 164,496 births and 234,176 deaths. 

{| class="wikitable floatright" style="max-width: 22em"
|+ Significant foreign resident populations<ref>{{Cite web | date=31 December 2014 | language=de| publisher=Statistical Office | url=https://www.destatis.de/DE/Publikationen/Thematisch/Bevoelkerung/MigrationIntegration/AuslaendBevoelkerung.html | title=Zensus 2014: Bevölkerung am 31. Dezember 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901101731/https://www.destatis.de/DE/Publikationen/Thematisch/Bevoelkerung/MigrationIntegration/AuslaendBevoelkerung.html | archive-date=2017-09-01}}</ref>
|-
! Nationality || Population (2022) || Population (2023)
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}} || 487,145 || 492,460
|-
| {{flag|Syria}} || 271,275 || 286,035
|-
| {{flag|Ukraine}} || 243,150 || 251,195
|-
| {{flag|Poland}} || 221,530 || 222,360
|-
| {{flag|Romania}} || 164,480 || 168,710
|-
| {{flag|Italy}} || 143,165 || 141,135
|-
| {{flag|Bulgaria}} || 97,615 || 106,165
|-
| {{flag|Greece}} || 102,425 || 98,225
|-
| {{flag|Iraq}} || 94,385 || 94,420
|-
| {{flag|Serbia}} || 68,590 || 70,195
|-
| {{flag|Afghanistan}} || 62,375 || 69,335
|-
| {{flag|Netherlands}} || 70,315 || 68,760
|-
| {{flag|Kosovo}} || 65,580 || 68,570
|-
| {{flag|Russia}} || 52,735 || 59,070
|-
| {{flag|Spain}} || 56,180 || 58,010
|-
| {{flag|Croatia}} || 58,635 || 57,070
|-
| {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} || 45,305 || 46,925
|-
| {{flag|Morocco}} || 47,695 || 44,115
|}

The following table shows the ten largest cities of North Rhine-Westphalia:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb"|Pos. 
!style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb"|Name 
!style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb"|Pop. 2020
!style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb"|Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
!style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb"|Pop. per km<sup>2</sup>
! style="text-align:center;" class="unsortable"| Map 
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 1 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Cologne]] || 1,083,498 || 405.15 || 2,668 || rowspan="10" |[[File:North Rhine-Westphalia location map 02.svg|250px]]
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 2 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Düsseldorf]] || 620,523 || 217.01 || 2,839
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 3 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Dortmund]] || 587,696 || 280.37 || 2,090
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 4 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Essen]] || 582,415 || 210.38 || 2,774
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 5 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Duisburg]] || 495,885 || 232.81 || 2,140
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 6 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Bochum]] || 364,454 || 145.43 || 2,509
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 7 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Wuppertal]] || 355,004 || 168.37 || 2,100
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 8 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Bielefeld]] || 333,509 || 257.83 || 1,285
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 9 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Bonn]] || 330,579 || 141.22 || 2,307
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 10 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Münster]] || 316,403 || 302.91 || 1,034
|}

===Historical population===
The following table shows the population of the state since 1930. The values until 1960 are the average of the yearly population, from 1965 the population at year end is used. 
{{historical populations|align=none|cols=3
| percentages = pagr
| source = <ref name="EWZ">{{cite web |url=https://www.landesdatenbank.nrw.de/ldbnrw/online/logon |publisher=Landesbetrieb für Information und Technik Nordrhein-Westfalen|work=Landesdatenbank Nordrhein-Westfalen|title=Bevölkerung NRW|quote=Zahlen sind Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes. Die Zahlen ab 1965 beziehen sich auf die Bevölkerung zum 31. Dezember des jeweiligen Jahres. Bis 1960 Mittlere Jahresbevölkerung. Bis einschließlich 1986 geschätzte Werte. Die Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes basiert ab 1987 auf den Ergebnissen der Volkszählung von 1987. Daten vor 1977 wurden auf den Gebietsstand 1. Juli 1976 umgerechnet|access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
| 1930 | 11,407,000
| 1940 | 12,059,000
| 1950 | 12,926,000
| 1955 | 14,442,000
| 1960 | 15,694,000
| 1965 | 16,619,450
| 1970 | 17,033,651
| 1975 | 17,129,200
| 1980 | 17,057,488
| 1985 | 16,674,001
| 1990 | 17,349,651
| 1995 | 17,893,045
|2001|18,052,092|2011|17,538,251|2022|17,890,489}}

===Vital statistics===
*Births from January–September 2016 = {{increase}} 130,025
*Births from January–September 2017 = {{increase}} 130,088
*Deaths from January–September 2016 = {{decreasepositive}} 150,018
*Deaths from January–September 2017 = {{increasenegative}} 153,435
*Natural growth from January–September 2016 = {{increase}} −19,993
*Natural growth from January–September 2017 = {{decrease}} −23,347
Source: ''Statistische Ämter des Bundes Und der Länder''<ref>{{cite web|title=Bevölkerung|url=https://www.statistikportal.de/de/bevoelkerung|access-date=13 October 2023|website=Statistische Ämter des Bundes Und der Länder}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{bar box
|title=Religion in North Rhine-Westphalia, 2020<ref name="ekd2020">[https://www.ekd.de/ekd_de/ds_doc/Ber_Kirchenmitglieder_2020.pdf Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland – Kirchenmitgliederzahlen Stand 31. Dezember 2020] EKD, November 2021</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Catholic Church in Germany|Roman Catholicism]]|DarkOrchid|32.7}}
{{bar percent|Other or [[Irreligion|none]]|SlateGray|46.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Protestant Church in Germany|EKD Protestantism]]|DodgerBlue|20.8}}
}}

{{As of|2023}}, 32.7% of the population of the state adhered to the [[Roman Catholic Church]], 20.8% to the [[Protestant Church in Germany]], and 46.5% of the population was [[Irreligion in Germany|irreligious]] or adhered to other denominations or religions. North Rhine-Westphalia ranks first in population among German states for both Roman Catholics and Protestants.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ekd.de/ekd_de/ds_doc/Bericht_KiMi_2023_Bericht.pdf | title=Kirchenmitgliederzahlen Stand 31. Dezember 2023 | language=de | trans-title=Church members as of December 31, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216093016/https://www.ekd.de/ekd_de/ds_doc/Bericht_KiMi_2023_Bericht.pdf | archive-date=2024-12-16}}</ref>

In 2016, the interior ministry of North Rhine-Westphalia reported that the number of mosques with a [[Islam in Germany#Salafism|Salafist]] [[International propagation of Salafism and Wahhabism|influence]] had increased from three to nine, which indicated both an actual increase and improved reporting.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=Verfassungsschutz: Salafisten agitieren in NRW in 55 Moscheen |url=https://rp-online.de/nrw/panorama/nrw-salafisten-agitieren-in-55-moscheen_aid-18340503 |location=[[Düsseldorf]] |work=[[Rheinische Post]] |language=de |access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref> According to German authorities, [[Salafi movement|Salafism]] is incompatible with the principles codified in the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany]], in particular: [[democracy]], the [[rule of law]], and political order based on [[human rights]].<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=Salafismus |url=https://www.verfassungsschutz.bayern.de/islamismus/definition/erscheinungsformen/salafismus/index.html |url-status=live |website=www.verfassungsschutz.bayern.de |language=de |location=[[Munich]] |publisher=[[Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution|Bayerisches Landesamt für Verfassungsschutz]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228220414/https://www.verfassungsschutz.bayern.de/islamismus/definition/erscheinungsformen/salafismus/index.html |archive-date=28 December 2021 |access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref>

==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of North Rhine-Westphalia}}
[[File:Duesseldorf 1932Kopie.jpg|thumb|[[Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia|Landtag]] in [[Düsseldorf]]]]

The politics of North Rhine-Westphalia takes place within a framework of a [[Federal republic|federal]] [[parliamentary]] [[representative democratic]] republic. The two main parties are, as on the federal level, the centre-right [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democratic Union]] and the centre-left [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]. From 1966 to 2005, North Rhine-Westphalia was continuously governed by the Social Democrats or SPD-led governments.

The state's legislative body is the [[Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia|Landtag]] ("state parliament house").<ref name="NRWPolitcs">{{cite web|title=The Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia|url=http://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/GB_II/II.1/OeA/International/en/en.jsp#a1|publisher=[[Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia]]|access-date=11 April 2011|archive-date=29 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629061849/http://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/GB_II/II.1/OeA/International/en/en.jsp#a1|url-status=dead}}</ref> It may pass laws within the competency of the state, e.g. cultural matters, the education system, matters of internal security, i.e. the police, building supervision, health supervision and the media; as opposed to matters that are reserved to Federal law.<ref name="NRWPolitcs"/>

North Rhine-Westphalia uses the same electoral system as the Federal level in Germany: "''[[mixed member proportional representation|Personalized proportional representation]]''". Every five years the citizens of North Rhine-Westphalia vote in a general election to elect at least 181 members of the Landtag. Only parties who win at least 5% of the votes cast may be represented in parliament.<ref name="NRWPolitcs"/>

The Landtag, the parliamentary parties and groups consisting of at least 7 members of parliament have the right to table legal proposals to the Landtag for deliberation.<ref name="NRWPolitcs"/> The law that is passed by the Landtag is delivered to the Minister-President, who, together with the ministers involved, is required to sign it and announce it in the Law and Ordinance Gazette.<ref name="NRWPolitcs"/>

===Landtag after 2022 Election===
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="text-align:right"
|-
! colspan=2| Party
! rowspan=1| Seats<ref name="x371">{{cite web | title=Landtagswahl in NRW | website=www.wahlergebnisse.nrw | url=https://www.wahlergebnisse.nrw/landtagswahlen/2022/aktuell/a000lw2200.shtml | access-date=2024-12-14}}</ref>
! rowspan=1| +/–
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany]] (CDU)
| 76
| {{increase}} 4
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]] (SPD)
| 56
| {{decrease}} 13
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] (GRÜNE)
| 39
| {{increase}} 25
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP)
| 12
| {{decrease}} 16
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD)
| 12
| {{decrease}} 4
|-
! colspan=2| Total
! 195
|}
The vote was held on 15 May, 2022. In the aftermath of the [[2022 North Rhine-Westphalia state election|2022 election]], the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) both had talks with the Greens. An alliance between the Greens and the SPD would have required the help of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) to gain a majority, but the FDP did not take part in these conversations. Rather, its top candidate believed that a Green/CDU alliance was the most likely outcome.<ref name="f468">{{cite web | title=Nach der Landtagswahl in NRW: SPD und Grüne treffen sich zu Gesprächen | website=Ruhr Nachrichten | date=2022-05-20 | url=https://www.ruhrnachrichten.de/regionales/landtagswahl-nrw-koalition-spd-gruene-w1756391-2000532886/ | language=de | access-date=2024-12-14}}</ref> All mainstream parties tend to refuse to cooperate with the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD).<ref name="h778">{{cite web | last=Nöstlinger | first=Nette | title=The firewall against the German far right is crumbling | website=POLITICO | date=2024-08-30 | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/far-right-germany-afd-extremism-far-right-nazi-party/ | access-date=2024-12-14}}</ref> Ultimately, the CDU/Green alliance was the one that prevailed.<ref name="l109">{{cite web | last=Tschirner | first=Ulrike | title=Nordrhein-Westfalen: CDU und Grüne einigen sich auf Koalition in NRW | website=ZEIT ONLINE | date=2022-06-10 | url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2022-06/cdu-und-gruene-einigen-sich-auf-koalition-in-nrw | language=de | access-date=2024-12-14}}</ref> The new coalition reelected [[Hendrik Wüst]], who had been the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia during the last portion of the previous CDU/FDP coalition on 28 June, 2022.<ref name="m412">{{cite web | last=Spiegel | first=Der | title=Hendrik Wüst (CDU) als NRW-Ministerpräsident wiedergewählt | website=DER SPIEGEL | date=2022-06-28 | url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/hendrik-wuest-cdu-als-nrw-ministerpraesident-wiedergewaehlt-a-6f36381a-59f5-47eb-9ae8-d3af0c9deea3 | language=de | access-date=2024-12-14}}</ref>

===List of minister-presidents===
These are the [[Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia|minister-presidents of North Rhine-Westphalia]]:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Minister-presidents of North Rhine-Westphalia
|- style="background:#eef;"
! No.
! Name 
! Image
! Born-Died
! Party affiliation
! Start of tenure
!
! End of tenure
|- style="background:#C5DFE1;"
 || 1
 || [[Rudolf Amelunxen]]
 || [[File:Rudolf Amelunxen - Ausschnitt aus Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F001946-0009, Berlin, Bundesversammlung wählt Bundespräsident.jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1888–1969
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Centre Party (Germany)|Centre Party]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1946
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1947
|- style="background:#C5DFE1;"
 || 2
 || [[Karl Arnold]]
 || [[File:KAS-Arnold, Karl-Bild-6024-1.jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1901–1958
| style="text-align:center;"| CDU
| style="text-align:center;"| 1947
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1956
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
 || 3
 || [[Fritz Steinhoff]]
 || [[File:Bundesarchiv Fritz Steinhoff.jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1897–1969
| style="text-align:center;"| SPD
| style="text-align:center;"| 1956
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1958
|- style="background:#C5DFE1;"
 || 4
 || [[Franz Meyers]]
 || [[File:Franz Meyers ex Ludwig Erhard 1965 FdG 1.jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1908–2002
| style="text-align:center;"| CDU
| style="text-align:center;"| 1958
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1966
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
 || 5
 || [[Heinz Kühn]]
 || [[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F023752-0007 Heinz Kühn cropped.jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1912–1992
| style="text-align:center;"| SPD
| style="text-align:center;"| 1966
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1978
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
 || 6
 || [[Johannes Rau]]
 || [[File:Johannes rau 2004-05-16 berlin-RZ.jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1931–2006
| style="text-align:center;"| SPD
| style="text-align:center;"| 1978
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 1998
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
 || 7
 || [[Wolfgang Clement]]
 || [[File:Wolfgang Clement.jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1940–2020
| style="text-align:center;"| SPD
| style="text-align:center;"| 1998
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2002
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
 || 8
 || [[Peer Steinbrück]]
 || [[File:Next Peer Steinbrück (SPD).jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| *1947
| style="text-align:center;"| SPD
| style="text-align:center;"| 2002
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2005
|- style="background:#C5DFE1;"
 || 9
 || [[Jürgen Rüttgers]]
 || [[File:Juergen Ruettgers.jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| *1951
| style="text-align:center;"| CDU
| style="text-align:center;"| 2005
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2010
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
 || 10
 || [[Hannelore Kraft]]
 || [[File:Hannelorekraft.jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| *1961
| style="text-align:center;"| SPD
| style="text-align:center;"| 2010
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2017
|- style="background:#C5DFE1;"
 || 11
 || [[Armin Laschet]]
 || [[File:Grundsteinlegung MiQua-7004 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| *1961
| style="text-align:center;"| CDU
| style="text-align:center;"| 2017
|
| style="text-align:center;"| 2021
|- style="background:#C5DFE1;"
 || 12
 || [[Hendrik Wüst]]
 || [[File:2019-10-10 Hendrik Wüst by OlafKosinsky MG 1329.jpg|60px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | *1975
| style="text-align:center;" | CDU
| style="text-align:center;" | 2021
|
| style="text-align:center;" | Current
|}

For further information on the current state government, see [[Second Wüst cabinet|Wüst cabinet]].

==Culture==
{{Expand section|cultural differences between for the two [[Landschaftsverbände]]+The [[Ruhr Area]]. Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf and their whole lot of museums/art institutions; Düsseldorf/Neuss and Fashion|date=April 2011}}

=== Architecture and building monuments ===

*The state is known for the most castles and fortresses in Germany.<ref name="CultureNRW"/>
*North Rhine-Westphalia has a high concentration of museums, cultural centres, concert halls and theatres.<ref name="CultureNRW" />{{Synthesis inline|the reference may have been misinterpreted|date=April 2011}}

==== Historic monuments ====
<!-- Please keep new images at the same format -->
<gallery heights="140">
File:Löwenstein House Aachen (Germany).jpg|Medieval architecture in [[Aachen]]
File:Früh Brauhaus Köln - Am Hof 12 und 14 (4626-28).jpg|''[[Cölner Hofbräu Früh]]'' in [[Cologne]]
File:Alte Markt Dortmund.JPG|''[[Reinoldikirche]]'' and ''Alter Markt'' in [[Dortmund]]
File:Muenster-100725-16053-Rathaus.jpg|The [[Historical City Hall of Münster|Historical City Hall]] in [[Münster]]
File:Warburg Sackturm-mit-Stadttor.jpg|Gate and Tower of the medieval town-fortification in [[Warburg]]
File:Alt Monschau - geo.hlipp.de - 6903.jpg|Timber framing in [[Monschau]]
File:Aerial image of Schloss Nordkirchen (view from the southeast).jpg|''[[Schloss Nordkirchen]]''
File:Lange Straße 2, 3, Warburg, Landkreis Höxter.jpg|Eckmaenneken-House in [[Warburg]]; eldest-dated timber-framed-house of Westphalia
File:Corvey Westwerk 2.jpg|[[Princely Abbey of Corvey]] nearby City of [[Höxter]]
File:Hermannsdenkmal 2015.jpg|[[Hermann's Monument]] nearby [[Detmold]]
File:Externsteine 14.jpg|[[Externsteine]]
File:PaderbornerDom-2.JPG|[[Paderborn Cathedral]]
</gallery>

==== Modern architecture ====
<!-- Please keep new images at the same format -->
<gallery heights="80">
File:Zeche Zollern Dortmund.jpg|The [[Zollern II/IV Colliery|Zeche Zollern]] in [[Dortmund]] 
File:Düsseldorf, Stresemannstraße 26, 2012 (1).jpg|[[Hotel Römischer Kaiser]] in Düsseldorf
File:Düsseldorf, Medienhafen.jpg|''[[Neuer Zollhof]]'' in [[Düsseldorf]]
File:Krefeld haus lange gartenseite04 12.jpg|[[Haus Lange and Haus Esters]] in [[Krefeld]]
File:Langen Foundation.jpg|The [[Langen Foundation]] in [[Neuss]] 
File:Schwebebahn G15.jpg|The ''[[Wuppertal Schwebebahn|Schwebebahn]]'' in [[Wuppertal]]
File:Herford MARTa 88.jpg|[[MARTa Herford]]
</gallery>

==== World Heritage Sites ====
{{see also|List of World Heritage Sites in Europe#Germany}}
The state has [[Aachen Cathedral]], the [[Cologne Cathedral]], the [[Zeche Zollverein]] in [[Essen]], the [[Augustusburg and Falkenlust Palaces, Brühl|Augustusburg Palace]] in [[Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia|Brühl]] and the [[Imperial Abbey of Corvey]] in [[Höxter]] which are all [[World Heritage Sites]].<ref name="CultureNRW"/>

<gallery heights="80">
File:Schloss Augustusburg in Brühl 4.jpg|[[Augustusburg and Falkenlust Palaces, Brühl|Augustusburg and Falkenlust]]
File:Aachen Germany Imperial-Cathedral-01.jpg|[[Aachen Cathedral]]
File:Kdom.jpg|[[Cologne Cathedral]]
File:Zeche Zollverein abends.jpg|The [[Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex|Zollverein Coal Mine]] 
File:Corvey Westwerk 2.jpg|The [[Imperial Abbey of Corvey]]
</gallery>

=== Cuisine ===
{{See also|List of German dishes}}
{{Expand section|local cuisine for the two [[Landschaftsverbände]]+The [[Ruhr Area]]|date=April 2011}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Food native to North Rhine-Westphalia
|<big>''Pumpernickel'' bread one of the most famous German breads. It is made from a dark rye, and has a unique and subtly sweet flavor. It has been baked for centuries and has acquired its popular name from the war era, when bread was being rationed. It means flatulence and bad spirits.</big><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Weichselbaum|first=Elizabeth|date=2009|title=Synthesis Report No 6: Traditional Foods in Europe|url=http://www.eurofir.org/wp-admin/wp-content/uploads/EuroFIR%20synthesis%20reports/Synthesis%20Report%206_Traditional%20Foods%20in%20Europe.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.eurofir.org/wp-admin/wp-content/uploads/EuroFIR%20synthesis%20reports/Synthesis%20Report%206_Traditional%20Foods%20in%20Europe.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|journal=European Food Information Resource (EuroFIR)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kitchenproject.com/history/Bread/Pumpernickel/index.htm|title=The history of Pumpernickel Bread|website=www.kitchenproject.com|access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref>
|[[File:Pumpernickel.jpg|thumb]]
|}

====Drinks====
*[[Kölsch (beer)|Kölsch]] is a local beer speciality brewed in [[Cologne]].
*[[Altbier|Alt]] is a local beer speciality brewed in [[Düsseldorf]] and the [[Lower Rhine Region]].
*[[Dortmunder Export]] is a local pale lager beer speciality brewed in [[Dortmund]].

=== Festivals ===
{{Expand section|Music, Art and Cultural festivals|date=April 2011}}
North Rhine-Westphalia hosts film festivals in [[Cologne]], Bonn, [[Dortmund]], [[Duisburg]], [[Münster]], [[Oberhausen]] and [[Lünen]].<ref name="CultureNRW">{{cite web|title=Culture|url=http://www.nrw.de/en/north-rhine-westphalia/culture/|publisher=State of North Rhine-Westphalia|access-date=13 April 2011}}</ref>

Other large festivals include [[Cologne Carnival|Rhenish carnivals]], [[Ruhrtriennale]].

Every year [[Gamescom]] is hosted in [[Cologne]]. It is the largest video game convention in Europe.

=== Music ===
{{Expand section|Classical and contemporary music|date=April 2011}}

* The composer [[Ludwig van Beethoven]] was born in [[Bonn]] in 1770.
* A regional anthem is the [[Lied für NRW]] (Song for NRW).
* North Rhine-Westphalia is home to many of Germany's best-known [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[speed metal]] and [[thrash metal]] bands: [[Accept (band)|Accept]], [[Angel Dust (German band)|Angel Dust]], [[Blind Guardian]], [[Doro (musician)|Doro]] (formerly of [[Warlock (band)|Warlock]]), [[Grave Digger (band)|Grave Digger]], [[Holy Moses]], [[Kreator]], [[Rage (German band)|Rage]], [[Scanner (band)|Scanner]] and [[Sodom (band)|Sodom]]. 
* North Rhine-Westphalia is home to electronic music pioneers [[Karlheinz Stockhausen]] and the band [[Kraftwerk]].

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of North Rhine-Westphalia}}
[[File:Thyssen-Krupp-Quartier-Teilansicht-Essen-2013.jpg|thumb|right|[[ThyssenKrupp]] headquarters in [[Essen]]]]
North Rhine-Westphalia has always been Germany's powerhouse with the largest economy among the [[List of German states by GRDP|German states by GDP figures]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Campbell|first1=Eric|title=Germany – German Powerhouse|url=https://www.land.nrw/en/economy-north-rhine-westphalia|access-date=7 March 2021|website=NRW|date=23 January 2015 }}</ref> In 2024, Westphalia was the first state to reach GDP of [[US$]]1.0 trillion.<ref name="destatis"/>

In the 1950s and 1960s, Westphalia was known as ''Land von Kohle und Stahl'' (''Land of Coal and Steel''). In the post-World War II recovery, the [[Ruhr]] was one of the most important industrial regions in Europe, and contributed to the German [[Wirtschaftswunder]]. As of the late 1960s, repeated crises led to contractions of these industrial branches. On the other hand, producing sectors, particularly in mechanical engineering and metal and iron working industry, experienced substantial growth. Despite this structural change and an economic growth which was under national average, the 2024 GDP of €872 billion (1/5 of the total German GDP) made NRW the economically strongest state of Germany [[List of German states by GRDP|by GDP figures]], as well as one of the most important economical areas in the world.<ref name="destatis"/> Of Germany's top 100 corporations, 37 are based in North Rhine-Westphalia. On a per capita base, however, North Rhine-Westphalia remains one of the weaker among the [[West Germany|Western German]] states.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vgrdl.de/Arbeitskreis_VGR/tab01.asp |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614093410/http://www.vgrdl.de/Arbeitskreis_VGR/tab01.asp|url-status=dead|archivedate=14 June 2008 |title=Arbeitskreis Volkswirtschaftliche Gesamtrechnungen der Länder: ''Volkswirtschaftliche Gesamtrechnungen der Länder''}}</ref>

North Rhine-Westphalia attracts companies from both Germany and abroad. In 2009, the state had the most foreign direct investments ([[Foreign direct investment|FDI]]) anywhere in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neweuropeaneconomy.com/business_info/FDI/ |title=FDI |publisher=New European Economy |access-date=29 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004194431/http://www.neweuropeaneconomy.com/business_info/FDI/ |archive-date=4 October 2011}}</ref> Around 13,100 foreign companies from the most important investment countries control their German or European operations from bases in North Rhine-Westphalia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Economy and Innovation |url=https://www.wirtschaft.nrw/en/economy-and-innovation |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=www.wirtschaft.nrw |language=en}}</ref>

There have been many changes in the state's economy in recent times. Among the many changes in the economy, employment in the creative industries is up while the mining sector is employing fewer people.<ref name="CultureNRW"/> [[Industrial heritage|Industrial heritage sites]] are now workplaces for designers, artists and the advertising industry.<ref name="CultureNRW"/><ref>{{cite news|author=Staff Reporter|title=Opening times of shops in Germany|url=https://www.oeffnungszeiten.com/|access-date=23 June 2017|work=www.oeffnungszeiten.com|agency=oeffnungszeiten|language=de}}</ref> The [[Ruhr]] region has – since the 1960s – undergone a significant structural change away from coal mining and steel industry. Many rural parts of Eastern [[Westphalia]], [[Bergisches Land]] and the [[Lower Rhine region (Germany)|Lower Rhine]] ground their economy on "[[Hidden Champions]]" in various [[economic sector|sector]]s.

As of June 2014, the unemployment rate is 8.2%, second highest among all western German states.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de/Navigation/Statistik/Statistik-nach-Regionen/Politische-Gebietsstruktur/Nordrhein-Westfalen-Nav.html |title=Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit |publisher=statistik.arbeitsagentur.de |access-date=16 July 2014 |archive-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828054136/http://www.statistik.arbeitsagentur.de/Navigation/Statistik/Statistik-nach-Regionen/Politische-Gebietsstruktur/Nordrhein-Westfalen-Nav.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In October 2018 the unemployment rate stood at 6.4% and was higher than the national average.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/36651/umfrage/arbeitslosenquote-in-deutschland-nach-bundeslaendern/|title=Arbeitslosenquote nach Bundesländern in Deutschland 2018 {{!}} Statista|website=Statista|language=de|access-date=13 November 2018}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Year<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www-genesis.destatis.de/genesis/online/data;sid=B1C50643A60FE295E866C5D1DE88989D.GO_2_2?operation=previous&levelindex=3&levelid=1542121134059&levelid=1542121130976&step=2|title=Federal Statistical Office Germany – GENESIS-Online|last=(Destatis)|first=© Statistisches Bundesamt|date=13 November 2018|website=www-genesis.destatis.de|language=en|access-date=13 November 2018}}</ref>
!2000
!2001
!2002
!2003
!2004
!2005
!2006
!2007
!2008
!2009
!2010
!2011
!2012
!2013
!2014
!2015
!2016
!2017
!2018
|-
|Unemployment rate in %
|9.2
|8.8
|9.2
|10.0
|10.2
|12.0
|11.4
|9.5
|8.5
|8.9
|8.7
|8.1
|8.1
|8.3
|8.2
|8.0
|7.7
|7.4
|6.8
|}

== Transport ==

With its central location in the [[Blue Banana|most important European economic area]], high population density, strong urbanization and numerous business locations, North Rhine-Westphalia has one of the densest transport networks in the world.

=== Regional rail network ===
[[File:VRR Linien-Netz 2014.jpg|thumb|Transportsystem Rhein-Ruhr in 2014]]
[[Image:Einfahrt Stadtbahn U46 in U-Bahnhof Saarlandstraße.JPG|thumb|Stadtbahn in [[Dortmund]]]]
The regional rail network is organised around the big cities on the Rhine and Ruhr such as [[Cologne]], [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Dortmund]]. The public transport companies in the Ruhr area and Düsseldorf are run under the umbrella of the [[Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr]], which provides a uniform ticket system valid for the area. The region of Cologne and Bonn is run under the [[Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg]]. There is also a ticketing system called ''NRW-Tarif'' which offers tickets between all the regions of North Rhine-Westphalia. The state is well-integrated into the national rail system, the {{Lang|de|[[Deutsche Bahn]]|italic=no}}, for both passenger and goods services, each city in the region has at least one or more train stations. The bigger central stations have frequent direct connections to most bigger German cities and European cities such as [[Amsterdam]], [[Brussels]], [[Paris]] and [[Basel]]. Some direct trains run to [[Vienna]] and [[Zürich]].

The Rhein-Ruhr area also contains some of the longest [[tram]] system in the world, with tram and [[Stadtbahn]] services from [[Witten]] to [[Krefeld]] in the VRR zone and [[Cologne]] to [[Bad Honnef]] and [[Siegburg]] via [[Bonn]] within the VRS zone. Besides the local public transportation there is an interconnected commuter rail network, with the [[Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn]] network serving the Ruhr area as well as Düsseldorf and the [[S-Bahn Köln]] serving the area around Cologne.

{{As of|2012}}, the VRR network alone consists of 978 lines,<ref name="net-report">{{cite web |url=http://www.vrr.de/blaetterkatalog/Verbundbericht_2013_RZ/blaetterkatalog/ |title=Verbundbericht 2012/2013 als Blätterkatalog |publisher=Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) |language=de |trans-title=Network Report 2012/2013 as a Page-by-page Catalog |page=107 |access-date=23 October 2013 |archive-date=5 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705172134/http://www.vrr.de/blaetterkatalog/Verbundbericht_2013_RZ/blaetterkatalog/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> of which there are: 
* in regional rail transit
** 11 [[S-Bahn]] lines<ref name="net-report" /> (''see:'' [[Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn]])
** 15 [[RegionalExpress]] lines<ref name="net-report" /> (''see:'' [[List of regional railway lines in North Rhine-Westphalia]])
** 24 [[RegionalBahn]] lines<ref name="net-report" /> (''see:'' [[List of regional railway lines in North Rhine-Westphalia]])
* in local rail transit 
** 19 [[Stadtbahn]] light rail lines<ref name="net-report" /> (''see:'' [[Rhine-Ruhr Stadtbahn]])
** 45 [[tram (Straßenbahn)]] lines<ref name="net-report" />
** 1 [[Schwebebahn Wuppertal|Schwebebahn]] line<ref name="net-report" /> (in [[Wuppertal]])
** 2 [[H-Bahn]] peoplemover systems<ref name="net-report" /> made up of three lines (two [[H-Bahn#Dortmund|H-Bahn]] lines in [[Dortmund]], and the [[H-Bahn#Düsseldorf Airport|Düsseldorf SkyTrain]] at [[Düsseldorf]] airport)
* in bus transit
** 906 [[bus|bus lines]],<ref name="net-report" /> including
*** 33 express bus lines (Schnellbus, SB)
*** 18 semi-fast bus lines (CityExpress, CE)
** 6 [[trolleybus]] lines<ref name="net-report" /> (in [[Solingen]])
* 15,300&nbsp;km of route network<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vrr.de/en/index.html |title=Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr – Homepage – Welcome to the VRR |publisher=Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) |access-date=23 October 2013 |archive-date=29 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529224053/http://vrr.de/en/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> (bus, light rail, and train)
* 11,500 transit stops

In 2022 the VRS and AVV area <ref name="network plan">{{cite web |url=https://www.vrs.de/fileadmin/Dateien/Downloadcenter/Netzplaene/Schienennetz_FlyerDINlang_dt_2022.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.vrs.de/fileadmin/Dateien/Downloadcenter/Netzplaene/Schienennetz_FlyerDINlang_dt_2022.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Schienennetz VRS Gesamtgebiet 2022 |publisher=Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS) |language=de |access-date=12 June 2022 }}</ref> contains 
* in regional rail transit
** 7 S-Bahn lines (with 4 being part of the [[Rhein-Ruhr S-Bahn]])
** 11 [[RegionalExpress]] lines (6 conntected to VRR)
** 18 [[RegionalBahn]] services
* in local rail transit 
** 16 [[Stadtbahn]] lines (''see:'' [[Cologne Stadtbahn]] and [[Bonn Stadtbahn]])
** 3 [[tram|streetcar (Straßenbahn)]] lines within the city of Bonn

===Road===
[[Image:A40-Ruhrschnellweg-Huttrop.jpg|thumb|Autobahn A40 in Essen]]
North Rhine-Westphalia has the densest network of [[German Autobahnen|Autobahns in Germany]] and similar Schnellstraßen (expressways). The Autobahn network is built in a grid network, with five east–west ([[Bundesautobahn 2|A2]], [[Bundesautobahn 4|A4]], [[Bundesautobahn 40|A40]], [[Bundesautobahn 42|A42]], [[Bundesautobahn 44|A44]]) and eight north–south ([[Bundesautobahn 1|A1]], [[Bundesautobahn 3|A3]], [[Bundesautobahn 43|A43]], [[Bundesautobahn 45|A45]], [[Bundesautobahn 52|A52]], [[Bundesautobahn 57|A57]], [[Bundesautobahn 59|A59]], [[Bundesautobahn 61|A61]]) routes. The A1, A2, A3, A4 and A61 are mostly used by through traffic, while the other autobahns have a more regional function.

Both the A44 and the A52 have several missing links, in various stages of planning. Some missing sections are currently in construction or planned to be constructed in the near future.

Additional expressways serve as bypasses and local routes, especially around Dortmund and Bochum. Due to the density of the autobahns and expressways, [[Bundesstraße]]n are less important for intercity traffic. The first Autobahns in the Region opened during the mid-1930s. Due to the density of the network, and the number of alternative routes, traffic volumes are generally lower than other major metropolitan areas in Europe. Traffic congestion is an everyday occurrence, but far less so than in the [[Randstad]] in the Netherlands, another polycentric urban area. Most important Autobahns have six lanes.

=== Airports ===
The region benefits from the presence of several airport infrastructure. The main airport is [[Düsseldorf Airport]], world class, which hosted 25.5 million passengers in 2019 and offers flights to various international destinations. Düsseldorf is the fourth-largest airport in Germany after [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]], [[Munich Airport|Munich]] and [[Berlin Brandenburg Airport|Berlin]] and serves as a [[airline hub|hub]] for [[Eurowings]] and as focus city for several more airlines. The airport has three passenger terminals and two runways and can handle wide-body aircraft up to the [[Airbus A380]].<ref name="a380ready">{{cite web|url=https://www.airliners.de/flughafen-duesseldorf-a380/35850|title=Flughafen Düsseldorf schließt Bauarbeiten für A380 ab|access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref>

The second airport is [[Cologne Bonn Airport]] serving [[Germany]]'s fourth-largest city [[Cologne]], and also serves [[Bonn]], former capital of [[West Germany]]. With around 10 million passengers passing through it in 2023, it is the sixth-largest passenger airport in Germany and the third-largest in terms of cargo operations. It is also a hub for Eurowings, but also for some cargo airlines. By traffic units, which combines cargo and passengers, the airport is in fifth position in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |title=ADV Monthly Traffic Report |date=November 2015 |publisher=Flughafenverband |url=http://www.adv.aero/fileadmin/pdf/statistiken/2015/11.2015_ADV-Monatsstatistik.pdf |access-date=6 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204205/http://www.adv.aero/fileadmin/pdf/statistiken/2015/11.2015_ADV-Monatsstatistik.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> As of March 2015, Cologne Bonn Airport had services to 115 passenger destinations in 35 countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airliners.de/sommerflugplan-2015-sieben-ziele-flughafen-koeln-bonn/35295|title=Sommerflugplan 2015: Sieben neue Ziele ab Flughafen Köln/Bonn|work=airliners.de|access-date=4 June 2015}}</ref> It is named after [[Konrad Adenauer]], a Cologne native and the first post-war Chancellor of West Germany.

Third airport in the region, [[Dortmund Airport]] is a minor [[international airport]] located {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} east of [[Dortmund]]. It serves the eastern [[Rhine-Ruhr|Rhine-Ruhr area]], the largest [[urban agglomeration]] in [[Germany]], and is mainly used for low-cost and leisure charter flights. In 2019 the airport served 2,719,563 passengers.

There are three more minor airports within the state: [[Münster Osnabrück Airport]], [[Airport Weeze]] and [[Paderborn Lippstadt Airport]].

===Waterways===
The [[Rhine]] flows through North Rhine-Westphalia. Its banks are usually heavily populated and industrialized, in particular the [[agglomerations]] [[Cologne]], [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Ruhr area]]. Here the Rhine flows through the largest conurbation in Germany, the [[Rhine-Ruhr]] region. [[Duisburg Inner Harbour]] (Duisport) and [[Dortmund Port]] are large industrial inland ports and serve as hubs along the Rhine and the German inland water transport system. The country is crossed by many canals like [[Rhine–Herne Canal]] (RHK), der [[Wesel-Datteln-Kanal]] (WDK), der [[Datteln-Hamm-Kanal]] (DHK) and [[Dortmund-Ems-Kanal]] (DEK) an important role for inland navigation.

==Education==
{{Main|Education in North Rhine-Westphalia}}
[[File:RWTH Aachen Hauptgebäude.jpg|thumb|[[RWTH Aachen]]]] [[RWTH Aachen]] is one of Germany's leading universities of technology and was chosen by [[Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft|DFG]] as one of the German [[German Universities Excellence Initiative|Universities of Excellence]] in 2007, 2012 and again in 2019. North Rhine-Westphalia is home to [[:Category:Universities and colleges in North Rhine-Westphalia|14 universities and over 50 partly postgraduate colleges]], with a total of over 742,000 students.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mkw.nrw/hochschule-und-forschung/studium-und-lehre/hochschulen-nordrhein-westfalen |title=innovation.nrw.de: students in NRW by university or college, 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref> Largest and oldest university is the [[University of Cologne]] ''(Universität zu Köln)'', founded in 1388 AD, since 2012 also one of Germany's eleven Universities of Excellence. [[University of Duisburg-Essen]] (Universität Duisburg-Essen), is also well known and is one of the largest universities in Germany.

==Sports==
===Football===
[[File:Signal_iduna_park_stadium_dortmund_4.jpg|thumb|right|[[Signal Iduna Park]], the stadium of [[Bundesliga]] club [[Borussia Dortmund]], is the largest stadium in Germany.]]

NRW is home to several football clubs of the [[Bundesliga]] including [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen]], [[Borussia Dortmund]], [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]], [[1. FC Köln]] and [[VfL Bochum]] and the [[2. Bundesliga]] including [[Fortuna Düsseldorf]], [[FC Schalke 04]] and [[SC Paderborn 07]] and the [[3. Liga]] including [[Arminia Bielefeld]], [[MSV Duisburg]], [[Rot-Weiß Essen]], [[Preußen Münster]], [[Rot-Weiß Oberhausen]], [[FC Viktoria Köln]] and [[SC Verl]].
Since the formal establishment of the German Bundesliga in 1963, [[Borussia Dortmund]] and [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]] have been the most successful teams in the state, with both winning five titles. [[1. FC Köln]] won two titles, including the first in 1963. Before the league's establishment, North Rhine-Westfalian teams competed for the title of Deutscher Fußballmeister (German Football Champion). Here, [[FC Schalke 04]] brought home seven titles, while Dortmund and Köln won an additional three and one title(s), respectively. [[Fortuna Düsseldorf]] and [[Rot-Weiß Essen]] have each been German Champion once. North Rhine-Westphalia has been a very successful footballing state having a combined total of 25 championships, fewer only than [[Bavaria]].

===Basketball===
The state is also home to several professional basketball teams that currently either compete in the [[Basketball Bundesliga]] or [[2. Basketball Bundesliga|ProA]] or have competed there in the past. 
These teams include [[Telekom Baskets Bonn]], [[Bayer Giants Leverkusen]], [[Paderborn Baskets]], [[Uni Baskets Münster]], [[VfL SparkassenStars Bochum]], [[Phoenix Hagen]] and [[Alemannia Aachen]].

===Ice hockey===
North Rhine-Westphalia is home to current and former [[Deutsche Eishockey Liga|DEL]] teams [[Düsseldorfer EG]], [[Kölner Haie]], [[Krefeld Pinguine]], and [[Iserlohn Roosters]].

==See also==
* [[Beckrath]]
* [[Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen]]
* [[Kunststiftung NRW]]
* [[NRW Forum]]
* [[Outline of Germany]]
* [[List of rivers of North Rhine-Westphalia]]
* [[List of lakes in North Rhine-Westphalia]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|North Rhine-Westphalia}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [https://www.land.nrw/english Official Government Portal]
* [http://visitnrw.com Visit NRW Tourist Information]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080503191205/http://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/GB_II/II.1/Oeffentlichkeitsarbeit/International/en/en.jsp The Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia]
* [https://www.nrw-tourism.com/ Holidays and travel tips in NRW]
* [http://www.westfaelische-geschichte.de Information and resources on the history of Westphalia on the Web portal "Westphalian History"]
* [http://www.lwl.org/westfaelische-geschichte/portal/Internet/ku.php?tab=que&ID=1 Guidelines for the integration of the Land Lippe within the territory of the federal state North-Rhine-Westphalia of 17 January 1947]
* [http://www.reise-photografie.de/nordrhein-westfalen.htm North Rhine-Westphalia images from Cologne and Duesseldorf to Paderborn and Muenster]
* {{Osmrelation-inline|62761}}

{{States of the Federal Republic of Germany}}
{{Germany districts north rhine-westphalia}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|North Rhine-Westphalia|Germany}}

[[Category:North Rhine-Westphalia| ]]
[[Category:NUTS 1 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1946]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:States of Germany]]