View source for Rhineland-Palatinate

{{Short description|State in Germany}}
{{Distinguish|North Rhine-Westphalia}}
{{about|the German state|the historical territory of the Elector of the Palatinate|Electoral Palatinate|the 19th-century territory|Circle of the Rhine|the Rhenish Palatinate|Palatinate (region)}}
{{redirect|Rheinland-Pfalz|the ships|German frigate Rheinland-Pfalz}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| official_name      = Rhineland-Palatinate
| native_name        = <small>{{native name|de|Rheinland-Pfalz}}<br />{{native name|pfl|Rhoilond-Palz}}</small>
| native_name_lang   = 
| settlement_type    = [[States of Germany|State]]
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 270px
| image_caption      = 
| image_seal         = Landessiegel Rheinland Pfalz.svg
| image_flag         = Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg
| flag_size          = 120px
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg
| shield_size        = 75px
| image_blank_emblem = Rheinland-Pfalz Logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
| 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|49|54|47|N|7|27|0|E|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Germany
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = [[Rhineland-Palatinate#History|30 August 1946]]
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Mainz]]
| governing_body     = [[Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate]]
| leader_party       = SPD
| leader_title       = [[List of minister-presidents of Rhineland-Palatinate|Minister-President]]
| leader_name        = [[Alexander Schweitzer (politician)|Alexander Schweitzer]]
| leader_title1      = Governing parties: ([[Schweitzer cabinet]])
| leader_name1       = {{Polparty|Germany|SPD}} / {{Polparty|Germany|Greens}} / {{Polparty|Germany|FDP}}
| leader_title2      = [[German Bundesrat|Bundesrat votes]]
| leader_name2       = 4 (of 69)
| leader_title3      = [[Bundestag|Bundestag seats]]
| leader_name3       = [[Results of the 2025 German federal election#Rhineland-Palatinate|31 (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=2025-06-17 |website=Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder |language=de}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 19857.97
| elevation_m        = 
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Bevölkerung am 31.12.2023 nach Nationalität und Bundesländern |url=https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Bevoelkerungsstand/Tabellen/bevoelkerung-nichtdeutsch-laender.html |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Statistisches Bundesamt |language=de}}</ref>
| population_total   = 4174311
| population_as_of   = 31 December 2023
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_demonym = 
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |year=2025 |title=Gross domestic product, gross value added in the states of the Federal Republic of Germany 1991 to 2024 (Series 1 Volume 1) |url=https://www.statistikportal.de/sites/default/files/2025-04/vgrdl_r1b1_bs2024_2.xlsx |website=Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder |language=de}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €184.043 billion (2024)
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = €44,046 (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 = 
| iso_code           = DE-RP
| blank_name_sec2    = [[First level NUTS of the European Union#Germany|NUTS Region]]
| blank_info_sec2    = DEB
| blank2_name_sec2   = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2022)
| blank2_info_sec2   = 0.938<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/DEU/ |title=Subnational HDI |website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref><br />{{color|green|very high}} · [[List of German states by Human Development Index|9th of 16]]
| website            = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Rhineland-Palatinate''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|r|aɪ|n|l|æ|n|d|_|p|ə|ˈ|l|æ|t|ɪ|n|ɪ|t|,_|-|l|ə|n|d|-}} {{respell|RYNE|land|_|pə|LAT|in|it|,_-|lənd|-}}, {{IPAc-en|USalso|-|ɪ|n|eɪ|t}} {{respell|-|in|ayt}}; {{langx|de|link=no|Rheinland-Pfalz}} {{IPA|de|ˌʁaɪnlant ˈpfalts||De-Rheinland-Pfalz2.ogg}}; {{langx|lb|Rheinland-Pfalz}} {{IPA|lb|ˌʀɑɪ̯nlɑm ˈpfɑlts|}}; {{langx|pfl|Rhoilond-Palz}}) is a western [[states of Germany|state of Germany]]. It covers {{convert|19846|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the sixteen states. [[Mainz]] is the capital and largest city. Other cities are [[Ludwigshafen|Ludwigshafen am Rhein]], [[Koblenz]], [[Trier]], [[Kaiserslautern]], [[Worms, Germany|Worms]], and [[Neuwied]].<ref name="State of Rhineland-Palatinate">{{cite web|title= State Facts of Rhineland-Palatinate|url= http://www.rlp.de/english/|publisher= State of Rhineland-Palatinate|access-date= 26 September 2011|archive-date= 8 July 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150708155847/http://www.rlp.de/english/|url-status= dead}}</ref> It is bordered by [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], [[Saarland]], [[Baden-Württemberg]] and [[Hesse]] and by [[France]], [[Luxembourg]] and [[Belgium]].

Rhineland-Palatinate was established in 1946 after [[World War II]], from parts of the former states of [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]] (part of its [[Rhine Province|Rhineland]] and [[Province of Nassau|Nassau province]]s), [[People's State of Hesse|Hesse]] ([[Rhenish Hesse]]) and [[Kingdom of Bavaria|Bavaria]] (its former outlying [[Circle of the Rhine|Palatinate kreis]] or district), by the French military administration in [[Allied-occupied Germany]]. Rhineland-Palatinate became part of the [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]] in 1949 and shared the country's only border with the [[Saar Protectorate]] until the latter was returned to German control in 1957. Rhineland-Palatinate's natural and cultural heritage includes the extensive [[Palatinate (wine region)|Palatinate]] [[winegrowing]] region, picturesque landscapes, and [[List of castles in Rhineland-Palatinate|many castles and palaces]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rlp.de/en/english/|title=english|last=Rheinland-Pfalz|first=Staatskanzlei|website=rlp.de|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=18 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218194152/https://www.rlp.de/en/english/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rhineland-Palatinate is currently the only federal state in Germany where nuclear weapons are stored extraterritorially under the responsibility and supervision of [[United States military|US forces]] at [[Büchel Air Base]].

Several [[German-American]] ethnicities originated from this state, such as the [[Pennsylvania Dutch]], [[Province of Maryland|Maryland Palatines]], [[Over-the-Rhine|Ohio Rhinelanders]], and [[Missouri Rhineland]]ers.

==History==
[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F046120-0035, Koblenz, "Rittersturz-Konferenz".jpg|thumb|Minister-president [[Peter Altmeier]] at the Rittersturz Conference in 1948]]
[[File:Koblenz im Buga-Jahr 2011 - Moselanlagen 02.jpg|thumb|The [[Peter Altmeier]] Monument in Koblenz]]
The state of Rhineland-Palatinate was founded shortly after the [[Second World War]], on 30 August 1946. It was formed mainly from the southern part of the Prussian [[Rhine Province]] (the {{lang|de|[[Regierungsbezirke]]}} of [[Regierungsbezirk Koblenz|Koblenz]] and [[Regierungsbezirk Trier|Trier]]), from [[Rhenish Hesse]], from the western part of [[Hesse-Nassau|Nassau]] and the [[Bavaria]]n [[Palatinate region|Rhenish Palatinate]] minus the county of [[Saarpfalz-Kreis|Saarpfalz]]. The Joint German-Luxembourg Sovereign Region ({{lang|de|Gemeinschaftliches deutsch-luxemburgisches Hoheitsgebiet}}) is the only unincorporated area of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. This [[Condominium (international law)|condominium]] is formed by the rivers [[Moselle]], [[Sauer]], and [[Our (river)|Our]], where they run along the border between Luxembourg and Rhineland-Palatinate or the Saarland.<ref name="State of Rhineland-Palatinate"/> The region has a vast history, from the control of the [[Franks]], to the control of the [[Holy Roman Empire]], and saw fighting during the First and Second World Wars.

=== Emergence ===
The present state of Rhineland-Palatinate formed part of the [[French Zone of Occupation]] (1945–1949) after the Second World War. It comprised the former Bavarian Palatinate, the {{lang|de|Regierungsbezirke}} ("government districts") of Koblenz and Trier (which formed the southern part of the Prussian [[Rhine Province]]), the parts of the Province of Rhenish Hesse ({{lang|de|Rheinhessen}}) west of the [[River Rhine]] and belonged to the [[People's State of Hesse]] ({{lang|de|Volksstaat Hessen}}), parts of the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau ([[Regierungsbezirk Montabaur|Montabaur]]), and the former Oldenburg region around [[Birkenfeld (Nahe)|Birkenfeld]] ([[Principality of Birkenfeld]]).

On 10 July 1945, the [[Allied-occupied Germany|occupation authority]] on the soil of the present-day Rhineland-Palatinate transferred from the Americans to the French. To begin with, the French divided the region provisionally into two "upper presidiums" ({{lang|de|Oberpräsidien}}), Rhineland-Hesse-Nassau (for the hitherto Prussian government districts and regions of [[Regierungsbezirk Koblenz|Koblenz]], [[Regierungsbezirk Trier|Trier]], and [[Regierungsbezirk Montabaur|Montabaur]]) and Hesse-Palatinate (for the hitherto Bavarian [[Palatinate region|Palatinate]] and old Hessian-Darmstadt province of [[Rhenish Hesse]]). The formation of the state was ordained on 30 August 1946, the last [[Land (Germany)|state]] in the Western Zone of Occupation to be established, by Regulation No. 57 of the French [[military government]] under General [[Marie-Pierre Kœnig]].<ref>Newssheet of the French Higher Command in Germany, No. 35 (1946), [http://deposit.d-nb.de/cgi-bin/recht.pl?zeitung=jouroffi&jahrgang=1946&ausgabe=035&seite=03700292&ansicht=3&bild=1&navigation=1&wahl=0&filename=.gif p. 292] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429025229/http://deposit.d-nb.de/cgi-bin/recht.pl?zeitung=jouroffi&jahrgang=1946&ausgabe=035&seite=03700292&ansicht=3&bild=1&navigation=1&wahl=0&filename=.gif |date=29 April 2018 }}</ref> It was initially called Rhenish-Palatinate ({{lang|de|Rheinpfälzisches Land}} or {{lang|de|Land Rheinpfalz}}); the name Rhineland-Palatinate ({{lang|de|Rheinland-Pfalz}}) was first confirmed in the constitution of 18 May 1947.<ref>{{cite web | title=Verfassungen in Rheinland-Pfalz | website=Verfassungen der Welt | url=http://www.verfassungen.de/rlp/index.htm | language=de | access-date=14 December 2021 | archive-date=14 December 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214130804/http://www.verfassungen.de/rlp/index.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Provisional Government of the French Republic|provisional French government]] at that time wanted originally to leave the option open of annexing further areas [[Left Bank of the Rhine|west of the Rhine]] after the Saarland was turned into a [[Saar Protectorate|protectorate]]. When the Americans and British, however had led the way with the establishment of German states, the French came under increasing pressure and eventually followed their example by setting up the states of [[Baden (South Baden)|Baden]], Württemberg-Hohenzollern, and Rhineland-Palatinate. However the French military government forbade the [[Saarland]] from joining Rhineland-Palatinate. [[Mainz]] was named as the state capital in the regulation; the "Mixed Commission" ({{lang|de|Gemischte Kommission}}), named as the highest organ of state charged with the administration of the new state and with the preparation of an advisory state assembly, started its work in Mainz. However war damage and destruction meant that Mainz did not have enough administrative buildings, so the headquarters of the state government and parliament was provisionally established in [[Koblenz]]. On 22 November 1946, the constituent meeting of the Advisory State Assembly ({{lang|de|Beratende Landesversammlung}}) took place there, and a draft constitution was drawn up. Previously, local elections had been held. [[Wilhelm Boden]] was (after a short term of office as the {{lang|de|Oberregierungspräsident}} of Rhineland-Hesse-Nassau) nominated on 2 December as the [[minister president]] of the new state by the French military government.

=== Early years ===
Adolf Süsterhenn submitted to the Advisory State Assembly a draft constitution, which was passed after several rounds of negotiation on 25 April 1947 in a final vote, with the absolute majority of the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]] voting for and the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]] and [[Communist Party of Germany|KPD]] voting against. A point of contention involved the draft constitution providing for separate schools based on Christian denomination. On 18 May 1947, 53% of the electorate adopted the Constitution for Rhineland-Palatinate in a [[referendum]]. While the Catholic north and west of the new state adopted the constitution by a majority, the majority in Rhenish Hesse and the Palatinate voted against it. On the same date the first elections took place for the state parliament, the [[Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate]]. The inaugural assembly of parliament took place on 4 June 1947 in the large city hall at [[Koblenz]]. Wilhelm Boden was elected the first minister-president of Rhineland-Palatinate. Just one month later, [[Peter Altmeier]] succeeded him.

The constitutional bodies – the Government ({{lang|de| Landesregierung}}), the Parliament ({{lang|de| [[Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate|Landtag]]}}) and the Constitutional Court ({{lang|de| Verfassungsgerichtshof}}) – established their provisional seat in Koblenz. In the following period, Koblenz and Mainz each emphasized their suitability as the state capital in a public debate. From the beginning, Minister-President Altmeier pressed for Mainz as the capital because he knew that the south of the country, especially the Palatinate, would not accept Koblenz, which was far to the north and formerly Prussian. On 16 May 1950, the {{lang|de| Landtag}} decided to relocate itself and the {{lang|de| Landesregierung}} from Koblenz to Mainz.<ref>[http://www.landeshauptarchiv.de/index.php?id=482 16 May 1950. Mainz wird Regierungssitz von Rheinland-Pfalz.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524082521/http://www.landeshauptarchiv.de/index.php?id=482|date=24 May 2011|quote=Die eindeutige Mehrheit der Abgeordneten stimmte für die Verlegung des Zentrums nach Süden, um dadurch ein Zusammenwachsen der einzelnen Landesteile zu begünstigen.}} in: [[Landeshauptarchiv Koblenz]]
</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Mainz statt Koblenz: 60 Jahre Hauptstadt|periodical= Fr-online.de|url= http://www.fr-online.de/spezials/mainz-statt-koblenz-60-jahre-hauptstadt,1472874,4433202.html|access-date= 14 December 2014|date= 17 May 2010|language= de|archive-date= 27 September 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150927094459/http://www.fr-online.de/spezials/mainz-statt-koblenz-60-jahre-hauptstadt,1472874,4433202.html|url-status= live}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=March 2020}}
After the government and parliament moved to Mainz, many state authorities and courts remained in Koblenz, including the Constitutional Court and the State Archives. In addition, the [[German Federal Archives]] and Federal Office of Hydrology were established in Koblenz in 1952.

=== Consolidation ===
A sense of community developed only very gradually in the "land of the retort", which had been established largely without regard to the historical affiliations of its inhabitants. It was given little chance of survival, especially as it had very few large industrial centres. However, the establishment of numerous military bases, both Allied and {{Lang|de|[[Bundeswehr]]|italic=no}}, helped to some extent to boost the economy. In 1956, under Article 29 of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]], petitions were made in the regions of Koblenz, Trier, Montabaur, Rhenish Hesse, and Palatinate for their separation from the state and incorporation into the respective states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg. All petitions for a [[referendum]] except those in the administrative district of Palatinate won the necessary majority; however, almost 20 years passed before the referendums finally took place. On 19 January 1975, none of the regions concerned returned a majority for being transferred to another state. This put an end to decades of discussion. Only the [[AKK conflict]], a dispute over the districts of [[Mainz-Amöneburg]], [[Mainz-Kastel]], and [[Mainz-Kostheim]], has continued to exercise politicians up to the present day.

==Geography==

Rhineland-Palatinate shares international borders with France ([[Grand Est]]), Luxembourg ([[Clervaux (canton)|Clervaux]], [[Diekirch (canton)|Diekirch]], [[Echternach (canton)|Echternach]], [[Grevenmacher (canton)|Grevenmacher]], [[Remich (canton)|Remich]], and [[Vianden (canton)|Vianden]]), and Belgium ([[Wallonia]]). Within Germany, its neighbors are [[Baden-Württemberg]], [[Hesse]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], and the [[Saarland]]. It is the ninth-largest state by area. Rhineland-Palatinate is part of the [[SaarLorLux]] euregion.

With 42% of its area covered by forests, it is the most forested state along with Hesse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forstwirtschaft-in-deutschland.de/german-forestry/forest-facts/?L=1|title=Forest facts – German forestry – 300 yrs of sustainability campaign|website=www.forstwirtschaft-in-deutschland.de|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=16 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616013702/http://www.forstwirtschaft-in-deutschland.de/german-forestry/forest-facts/?L=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The state's major rivers are the Rhine, including the [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] [[Middle Rhine]], and the [[Moselle]]. Several crater lakes of volcanic origin are in the [[Eifel]], the largest of which is the [[Laacher See]].

Climatically, Rhineland-Palatinate can be divided into two areas:
The [[Rhenish Massif]] with a typically [[humid continental climate]] (Dfb). Summers here are usually warm with much precipitation and winters tend to be dry and cold. Snowfall is a common occasion.

The deep valleys of [[Rhine]] and [[Moselle]] with an [[oceanic climate]] (Köppen climate classification: ''Cfb''). Summers are hot and moist, while winters are cool. Freezing temperatures are rare and snow usually melts within hours. The mild climate allows [[palm trees]], [[fig|fig trees]], [[stone pine|stone pines]], [[oleander]] shrubs, [[olive trees]], [[almond]] trees and other exotic plants to be grown in this area.

The forests in this region are home to common pests such as ''[[Melolontha hippocastani]]'', that cause damage to the foliage and soil.

The [[Rhenish Massif]] forms roughly the northern half of the state, including the regions Eifel, [[Moselle Valley]], [[Hunsrück]], [[Westerwald]], and parts of the [[Taunus]]. The [[Palatinate (region)|Palatinate]] forms the biggest part of the southern half along with [[Rhenish Hesse]]. The [[Nahe (Rhine)|Nahe]] Valley separates both parts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.romantic-germany.info/holiday-regions/|title=Holiday regions in Romantic Germany|website=Gastlandschaften Rheinland-Pfalz|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718174733/https://www.romantic-germany.info/holiday-regions/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Politics==
{{Main article|Politics of Rhineland-Palatinate}}

==Administration==
Rhineland-Palatinate is divided into 24 districts (''[[Districts of Germany|Landkreise]]''), 12 independent cities (''Kreisfreie Städte'').
[[File:Rhineland-Palatinate, administrative divisions - de - colored.svg|thumb|Districts and district-free cities of Rhineland-Palatinate]]
=== Districts ===
Listing with [[Vehicle registration plates of Germany]]
{{colbegin|colwidth=20em}}
# [[Landkreis Ahrweiler|Ahrweiler]] (AW)
# [[Landkreis Altenkirchen (Westerwald)|Altenkirchen (Westerwald)]] (AK)
# [[Landkreis Alzey-Worms|Alzey-Worms]] (AZ)
# [[Landkreis Bad Dürkheim|Bad Dürkheim]] (DÜW)
# [[Landkreis Bad Kreuznach|Bad Kreuznach]] (KH)
# [[Landkreis Bernkastel-Wittlich|Bernkastel-Wittlich]] (WIL, BKS)
# [[Landkreis Birkenfeld|Birkenfeld]] (BIR)
# [[Landkreis Cochem-Zell|Cochem-Zell]] (COC, ZEL)
# [[Donnersbergkreis]] (KIB, ROK)
# [[Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm]] (BIT, PRÜ)
# [[Landkreis Germersheim|Germersheim]] (GER)
# [[Landkreis Kaiserslautern|Kaiserslautern]] (KL)
# [[Landkreis Kusel|Kusel]] (KUS)
# [[Landkreis Mainz-Bingen|Mainz-Bingen]] (MZ, BIN)
# [[Landkreis Mayen-Koblenz|Mayen-Koblenz]] (MYK, MY)
# [[Landkreis Neuwied|Neuwied]] (NR)
# [[Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis]] (SIM, GOA)
# [[Rhein-Lahn-Kreis]] (EMS, DIZ, GOH)
# [[Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis]] (RP)
# [[Landkreis Südliche Weinstraße|Südliche Weinstraße]] (SÜW)
# [[Landkreis Südwestpfalz|Südwestpfalz]] (PS, ZW)
# [[Landkreis Trier-Saarburg|Trier-Saarburg]] (TR, SAB)
# [[Landkreis Vulkaneifel|Vulkaneifel]] (DAU)
# [[Westerwaldkreis]] (WW)
{{colend}}

=== Independent cities ===
Listing with [[Vehicle registration plates of Germany]]
{{colbegin|colwidth=30em}}
# [[Frankenthal (Pfalz)]] (FT)
# [[Kaiserslautern]] (KL)
# [[Koblenz]] (KO)
# [[Landau in der Pfalz]] (LD)
# [[Ludwigshafen am Rhein]] (LU)
# [[Mainz]] (MZ)
# [[Neustadt an der Weinstraße]] (NW)
# [[Pirmasens]] (PS)
# [[Speyer]] (SP)
# [[Trier]] (TR)
# [[Worms, Germany|Worms]] (WO)
# [[Zweibrücken]] (ZW)
{{colend}}

==Demographics==
{{historical populations|13=1815|14=1202412|15=1835|16=1614684|17=1871|18=1832388|19=1905|20=2434505|21=1939|22=2959994|23=1950|24=3004784|25=1961|26=3417116|27=1970|28=3645437|29=1975|30=3665777|31=1980|32=3642482|33=1985|34=3615049|35=1990|36=3763510|37=1995|38=3977919|39=2001|40=4049066|41=2011|42=3989808|percentages=pagr|43=2022|44=4094169|footnote=source:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.statistik.rlp.de/no_cache/staat-und-gesellschaft/bevoelkerung-und-gebiet/tabellen/bevoelkerungsdichte/ |title=Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz, Bevölkerungsdichte |date=27 December 2012 |accessdate=14 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227233245/http://www.statistik.rlp.de/no_cache/staat-und-gesellschaft/bevoelkerung-und-gebiet/tabellen/bevoelkerungsdichte/ |archive-date=27 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Germany: States and Major Cities|url=https://citypopulation.de/en/germany/cities/}}</ref>}}
{| class="wikitable floatright plainrowheaders"
|+Selected foreign resident populations <ref>{{cite journal |title=Statistisches Jahrbuch 2018 |journal=Statistisches Jahrbuch Rheinland-Pfalz |year=2018 |page=61 |url=https://www.statistik.rlp.de/fileadmin/dokumente/jahrbuch/Jahrbuch2018.pdf |publisher=Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz |issn=1863-9100 |access-date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=20 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220091028/https://www.statistik.rlp.de/fileadmin/dokumente/jahrbuch/Jahrbuch2018.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! scope=col | Nationality
! scope=col | Population (31.12.2022)
! scope=col | Population (31.12.2023)
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Turkey}}
| 59,630 || 61,880
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Romania}}
| 48,795 || 51,530
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Ukraine}}
| 52,460 || 51,300
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Syria}}
| 46,425 || 49,800
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Poland}}
| 44,635 || 44,715
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Italy}}
| 32,480 || 31,125
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Bulgaria}}
| 28,310 || 28,975
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Afghanistan}}
| 18,680 || 20,645
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Kosovo}}
| 14,530 || 15,665
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Croatia}}
| 16,600 || 15,645
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Luxembourg}}
| 12,195 || 11,815
|}

===Largest cities===
{{See also|List of cities in Rhineland-Palatinate by population}}
The following table shows the ten largest cities of Rhineland-Palatinate:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/germany-rheinlandpfalz.php|title=Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany): Counties, Cities and Communes – Population Statistics, Charts and Map|website=www.citypopulation.de|access-date=21 December 2018|archive-date=22 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222082120/http://www.citypopulation.de/php/germany-rheinlandpfalz.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|Pos.
!align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|Name
!align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|Pop. 2017
!align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
!align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|Pop. per km<sup>2</sup>
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 1 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Mainz]]|| 215,110 || 98 || 2,201
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 2 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Ludwigshafen am Rhein]]|| 168,497 || 77 || 2,176
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 3 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Koblenz]]|| 113,844 || 105 || 1,082
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 4 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Trier]]|| 110,013 || 117 || 940
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 5 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Kaiserslautern]]|| 99,684 || 140 || 714
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 6 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Worms, Germany|Worms]]|| 83,081 || 109 || 764
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 7 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Neuwied]]|| 64,661 || 87 || 748
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 8 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Neustadt an der Weinstraße]]|| 53,353 || 117 || 456
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 9 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Speyer]]|| 50,931 || 43 || 1,192
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;"| 10 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Bad Kreuznach]]|| 50,484 || 56 || 909
|}

===Vital statistics===
<ref>{{cite web |title=Bevölkerung |url=https://www.statistikportal.de/de/bevoelkerung |website=Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder |access-date=16 June 2018 |archive-date=17 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617015609/https://www.statistikportal.de/de/bevoelkerung |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Births from January–August 2016 = {{increase}} 24,871
*Births from January–August 2017 = {{decrease}} 24,784
*Deaths from January–August 2016 = {{decreasepositive}} 30,572
*Deaths from January–August 2017 = {{increasenegative}} 32,167
*Natural growth from January–August 2016 = {{increase}} -5,701
*Natural growth from January–August 2017 = {{decrease}} -7,383

===Religion===
In 2018, 40.3% of the population of the state adhered to the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and 26.8% to the [[Protestant Church in Germany]]; 32.9% of the population was irreligious or adheres to other religions.<ref>[https://www.ekd.de/ekd_de/ds_doc/Ber_Kirchenmitglieder_2018.pdf Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland – Kirchemitgliederzahlen Stand 31. Dezember 2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219200647/https://www.ekd.de/ekd_de/ds_doc/Ber_Kirchenmitglieder_2018.pdf |date=19 February 2020 }} EKD, January 2020</ref> [[Muslim]]s made up 5.0% of the total.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/religion-mainz-rheinland-pfalz-gespraeche-mit-islamverbaenden-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-190404-99-680919 |title=Rheinland-Pfalz: Gespräche mit Islamverbänden |publisher=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]] |date=4 April 2019 |access-date=27 August 2020 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024094638/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/religion-mainz-rheinland-pfalz-gespraeche-mit-islamverbaenden-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-190404-99-680919 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Rhineland-Palatinate – 2018
|left1=religion
|right1=percent
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholics]]|DarkOrchid|41.3|40.3%}}
{{bar percent|[[Protestant Church in Germany|EKD Protestants]]|DodgerBlue|27.8|26.8%}}
{{bar percent|[[Muslim]]s|LimeGreen|5.0|5.0%}}
{{bar percent|Jewish|Orange|1.5|0.5%}}
{{bar percent|Other or [[Irreligion|none]]|SlateGray|28.4|27.4%}}
}}

====Jewish culture====
The league of [[ShUM-cities]] in the later Rhineland-Palatinate comprised the Jewish communities of Mainz, [[Jewish community of Speyer|Speyer]], and [[Worms, Germany|Worms]], which became the center of [[History of the Jews in Germany|Jewish life]] during medieval times.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ShUM-Sites Speyer, Worms, Mainz: Jewish heritage for the world|url=https://schumstaedte.de/en/|access-date=31 January 2023|website=SchUM Städte e.V.|language=en|archive-date=11 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111053327/https://schumstaedte.de/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''[[Takkanot Shum]]'' ({{langx|he|תקנות שו"ם}}), or Enactments of ShU"M were a set of decrees formulated and agreed upon over a period of decades by their Jewish community leaders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worms.de/en/tourismus/sehenswertes/juedisches_worms/welterbeantrag-schum-staedte/|title=Application for UNESCO World Heritage "ShUM Cities" > Stadt Worms|website=www.worms.de|access-date=2 July 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022737/https://www.worms.de/en/tourismus/sehenswertes/juedisches_worms/welterbeantrag-schum-staedte/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Hawley|first=Charles|date=2 August 2012|title=Germany Considers Jewish History for UNESCO Heritage|language=en|work=Der Spiegel|url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-states-nominate-jewish-sites-for-possible-unesco-inclusion-a-847700.html|access-date=31 January 2023|issn=2195-1349|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131191936/https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-states-nominate-jewish-sites-for-possible-unesco-inclusion-a-847700.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Today, there are approximately 20,000 Jews (0.5% of the population) living in the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rlp.de/fr/aktuelles/einzelansicht/news/detail/News/juedisches-leben-blueht-auf/ |title=Jüdisches Leben blüht auf |publisher=Landesregierung Rheinland-Pfalz |date=15 April 2014 |access-date=27 August 2020 |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518141310/https://www.rlp.de/fr/aktuelles/einzelansicht/news/detail/News/juedisches-leben-blueht-auf/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/rheinland-pfalz-saarland/article193974409/Antisemitismusbeauftragter-Juden-sind-verunsichert.html |title=Antisemitismusbeauftragter: Juden sind verunsichert |newspaper=[[Die Welt]] |date=22 May 2019 |access-date=27 August 2020 |archive-date=3 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003132654/https://www.welt.de/regionales/rheinland-pfalz-saarland/article193974409/Antisemitismusbeauftragter-Juden-sind-verunsichert.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
<!--
The official web site for the city of Mainz states: {{Cquote|One of the most glorious epoches in Mainz's long history was the period from the beginning of the 900s and evidently much earlier. Following the barbaric [[Early Middle Ages|Dark Ages]], a relatively safe and enlightened [[Carolingian]] period brought peace and prosperity to Mainz and much of central–western Europe.

For the next 400 years, Mainz attracted many Jews as trade flourished. The greatest Jewish teachers and rabbis flocked to the [[Rhine]]. Their teachings, dialogues, decisions and influence propelled Mainz and neighboring towns along the Rhine into world-wide prominence. Their fame spread, rivaling that of other post-[[Diaspora]] cities such as [[Bagdhad]]. Western European—[[Ashkenazic]] or Germanic—Judaism became centered in Mainz, breaking free of the [[Babylonia]]n traditions. A [[Yeshiva]] was founded in the 10th century by [[Gershom ben Judah]].
-->

{{notelist}}

==Economy==
The gross domestic product (GDP) of the state was 147.0 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 4.4% of German economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 33,100 euros or 110% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 102% of the EU average.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat|access-date=7 March 2020|archive-date=17 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417095003/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Industry===
Rhineland-Palatinate leads all German [[states in Germany|states]] with an export rate around 50%.<ref name="State of Rhineland-Palatinate"/> Important sectors are the [[viticulture|winegrowing]], [[chemical industry|chemical]], [[pharmaceutical industry|pharmaceutical]], and [[List of auto parts|auto parts industries]].<ref name="State of Rhineland-Palatinate" /> "Distinctive regional industries" includes [[gemstone]]s, [[ceramic]]s and glass, and leather. [[Small and medium enterprises]] are considered the "backbone" of the economy in Rhineland-Palatinate.<ref name="State of Rhineland-Palatinate"/> The principal employer is the chemical and plastics processing industry, which is represented by [[BASF]] in [[Ludwigshafen]]. [[Boehringer Ingelheim|Boehringer]], [[BioNTech]], [[Joh. A. Benckiser]], SGE Deutsche Holding, and [[Schott AG|Schott Glassworks]] conclude the top five companies in the state.<ref name="State of Rhineland-Palatinate"/>

===Agriculture and viticulture===
Rhineland-Palatinate is Germany's leading producer of wine in terms of grape cultivation and wine export. Its capital, Mainz, may be called the capital of the German wine industry, being the home of the German Wine Institute, the German Wine Fund in the {{lang|de|Haus des Deutschen Weines}} (House of German Wine), and the {{lang|de|[[Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter]]}} (VDP) Wine Bourse, which brings together the top winemakers of Germany and the wine merchants of the world.<ref>[https://www.rlp.de/en/english/ Viniculture and industry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218194152/https://www.rlp.de/en/english/ |date=18 February 2019 }}title at:''Rhineland-Palatinate – in the middle of Europe'', retrieved 1 November 2017</ref>

Of 13 wine regions producing quality wine in Germany, six ({{lang|de|[[Rheinhessen (wine region)|Rheinhessen]], [[Palatinate (wine region)|Pfalz]], [[Mosel wine|Mosel]], [[Nahe (wine region)|Nahe]], [[Mittelrhein (wine region)|Mittelrhein]]}}, and {{lang|de|[[Ahr (wine region)|Ahr]]}}) are located in Rhineland-Palatinate, with 65 to 70% of the production of wine grapes in Germany having their origin within the state.<ref>[http://www.mainz.de/medien/internet/downloads/GWC_Best-of-2016_WEB.pdf Mainz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322020128/http://mainz.de/medien/internet/downloads/GWC_Best-of-2016_WEB.pdf |date=22 March 2017 }}|Rheinhesse description on the pages of great wine capitals, retrieved 1 November 2017</ref> About 13,000 wine producers generate 80 to 90% of the German wine export. The total estimated production from the six Rhineland-Palatinate regions was nearly 7&nbsp;million&nbsp;hectoliters in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.germanwines.de/aktuelles/details/news/detail/News/germanys-vintage-2018-detailed-reports-by-region/ |title=Summary of German Wine Institute (DWI) 2018 report |access-date=12 February 2020 |archive-date=12 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212234216/https://www.germanwines.de/aktuelles/details/news/detail/News/germanys-vintage-2018-detailed-reports-by-region/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mueef.rlp.de/de/pressemeldungen/detail/news/detail/News/weinbauland-rheinland-pfalz-auch-beim-oekowein-spitze-griese-fordert-kaliumphosphonat-wieder-fuer-oe/|title=Weinbauland Rheinland-Pfalz auch beim Ökowein spitze – Griese fordert: Kaliumphosphonat wieder für Ökoweinbau zulassen|website=mueef.rlp.de|access-date=2 July 2017|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507181358/https://mueef.rlp.de/de/pressemeldungen/detail/news/detail/News/weinbauland-rheinland-pfalz-auch-beim-oekowein-spitze-griese-fordert-kaliumphosphonat-wieder-fuer-oe/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Traditional grape varieties and a wide range of varieties developed during the last 125 years are characteristic for the region.

Classical white varieties are cultivated at {{convert|63683|ha|acre}}. These comprise the famous [[Riesling]]s {{convert|14446|ha|acre}}, {{lang|de|[[Müller-Thurgau]]}} ({{convert|8663|ha|acre}}), {{lang|de|[[Silvaner]]}} ({{convert|3701|ha|acre}}), and {{lang|de|[[Kerner (grape)|Kerner]]}} ({{convert|3399|ha|acre}}).

The share of red varieties grew constantly during the last decades and amounts to {{convert|20000|ha|acre}}. {{lang|de|[[Dornfelder]]}}, a recent [[cultivar]], is the leading red grape cultivated on {{convert|7626|ha|acre}}, which is more than a third. {{lang|de|[[Blauer Portugieser]]}} ({{convert|4446|ha|acre}}) and {{lang|de|[[Pinot noir#Germany|Spätburgunder]]}} ({{convert|3867|ha|acre}}) show also appreciable cultivated shares.<ref>[http://www.statistik.rlp.de/lan/tabellen/rebflaechen.html Cultivated grape varieties in Rhineland-Palatinate 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206171327/http://www.statistik.rlp.de/lan/tabellen/rebflaechen.html |date=6 February 2008}} publisher: Statistical Office of Rhineland-Palatinate.</ref>

In addition, {{lang|fr|[[Pinot blanc]]}}, {{lang|fr|[[Pinot gris]]}}, [[Chardonnay]] as white varieties and [[Regent (grape)|Regent]] and [[St. Laurent (grape)|St. Laurent]] as red varieties have been increasing their share, as the growing conditions improve in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The state supports the wine industry by providing a comprehensive consultancy and education program in the service supply centers ({{langx|de|DLR|links=no}}) of the land. The [[Geilweilerhof Institute for Grape Breeding]] is fully financed by the state. Many well-known new varieties such as {{lang|de|[[Morio-Muskat]]}}, [[Bacchus (grape)|Bacchus]], [[Optima]], and [[Regent]] have been created in these institutes.

The worldwide leader in [[sparkling wine]] production, producing 224,4&nbsp;million bottles in 2017/18, is the renowned {{lang|de|Schloss Wachenheim}} Group. This company is headquartered in Trier, with operations in several locations in Rhineland-Palatinate and three sites in France (Compagnie Française des Grands Vins (CFGV)).<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.schloss-wachenheim.com/upload/dokumente/10429.pdf| title = Financial Report Geschäftsbericht 2017/2018| access-date = 28 July 2019| archive-date = 28 July 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190728150139/https://www.schloss-wachenheim.com/upload/dokumente/10429.pdf| url-status = live}}</ref>

Other renowned sparkling wine producers such as {{lang|de|Kupferberg}}, {{lang|de|Deinhard}}, and {{lang|de|Henkell}} also had their roots in the region, but now belong to companies outside the state as a result of business consolidation.

=== Unemployment ===
The unemployment rate stood at 4.4% in October 2018 and was lower than the German 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|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627171657/https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/36651/umfrage/arbeitslosenquote-in-deutschland-nach-bundeslaendern/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Year<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www-genesis.destatis.de/genesis/online/data;sid=8605C2647C4C92D731CC1EC4BAC5AF53.GO_1_3?operation=ergebnistabelleUmfang&levelindex=3&levelid=1542098063701&downloadname=13211-0007|title=Federal Statistical Office Germany – GENESIS-Online|last=(Destatis)|first=© Statistisches Bundesamt|date=13 November 2018|website=www-genesis.destatis.de|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=13 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113170119/https://www-genesis.destatis.de/genesis/online/data;sid=8605C2647C4C92D731CC1EC4BAC5AF53.GO_1_3?operation=ergebnistabelleUmfang&levelindex=3&levelid=1542098063701&downloadname=13211-0007|url-status=live}}</ref>
!2000
!2001
!2002
!2003
!2004
!2005
!2006
!2007
!2008
!2009
!2010
!2011
!2012
!2013
!2014
!2015
!2016
!2017
!2018
|-
|Unemployment rate in %
|7.3
|6.8
|7.2
|7.7
|7.7
|8.8
|8.0
|6.5
|5.6
|6.1
|5.7
|5.3
|5.3
|5.5
|5.4
|5.2
|5.1
|4.8
|4.4
|}

==Transport==
===Air===
The state is served by [[Hahn Airport]] located in [[Lautzenhausen]], the airport provides flights to some European destinations which are operated by [[low-cost carrier|low cost]] airlines. Residents of the state normally use other airports such as [[Frankfurt Airport]], [[Luxembourg Airport]], [[Saarbrücken Airport]], and [[Cologne Bonn Airport]] to fly to other domestic and international destinations.

==See also==
{{Portal|Rhineland-Palatinate}}
* [[Butterpfad]]
* {{lang|de|[[Erbeskopf]]}}
* {{lang|de|[[Nürburgring]]}}
*[[University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Kreuz – Rad – Löwe, ''Rheinland-Pfalz und seine Geschichte'', Verlag Philipp von Zabern, Mainz 2012
**Band 1 (Von den Anfängen der Erdgeschichte bis zum Ende des Alten Reiches): {{ISBN|978-3-8053-4510-1}}
**Bände 2 (Vom ausgehenden 18. Jahrhundert bis ins 21. Jahrhundert) und 3 (Historische Statistik): {{ISBN|978-3-8053-4291-9}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [https://www.rlp.de/en/ Official governmental portal]
* {{Osmrelation-inline|62341}}

{{States of the Federal Republic of Germany}}
{{Germany districts Rhineland-Palatinate}}
{{SaarLorLux}}

{{Authority control}}

{{coord|49|54|47|N|07|27|00|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Rhineland-Palatinate| ]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1946]]
[[Category:History of the Palatinate (region)]]
[[Category:NUTS 1 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Wine regions of Germany]]
[[Category:States of Germany]]