Why is Hamburg Germany’s most digital state? And what can other states learn from it?

The Bitkom state index 2026 puts Hamburg in first place again — overall. Hamburg is no longer Germany’s most digital administration, that’s Hesse now. Still, Hamburg does a lot right. What can other states learn from that?

1. Digital infrastructure.
Hamburg has invested consistently in fibre optics, data centres and mobile networks for years. Sounds logical, but many other states are still lagging behind here.

2. Digital economy.
Hardly any state brings together so many companies from logistics, aviation, media, fintech and artificial intelligence. These industries not only drive innovation, they also create demand for digital government services.

3. Digital government.
Even though Hamburg only reaches 3rd place here, the city still belongs to the top group. Many administrative services are already available online, and the administration is considered comparatively innovation-friendly.

4. Connectedness.
As a city-state, Hamburg has a structural advantage. Decisions between the state government and municipal administration don’t have to be coordinated across several administrative levels. That means projects can often be implemented faster.

Image: This image was created with AI.

Source: Bitkom state index 2026

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