Overview
- Bitkom’s Länderindex, released Wednesday in Berlin, ranks Hamburg first with 70.3 points ahead of Berlin at 63.8 and Hessen at 63.7.
- Saarland posts the biggest climb from 12th in 2024 to 6th in 2026, driven by six required computer‑science hours in all school types and top gigabit coverage at schools.
- The index scores all 16 states on 30 indicators across governance and administration, digital infrastructure, digital economy, and digital society using state surveys, official data, third‑party studies, and a poll of about 5,600 people.
- Regional patterns stand out as northern states lead on fiber and gigabit build‑out, the south excels in the digital economy, and several eastern states score high on digital skills and inclusion.
- Bitkom urges mandatory computer science from lower secondary, more teacher training and public skill programs, faster rollout of online services under the Onlinezugangsgesetz, and a shared “Deutschland‑Stack” as a common tech base for government IT.