Top-flight football since unification
Clubs in the 1. Bundesliga by side of the old border, every season 1991/92–2025/26
In 35 Bundesliga seasons since unification, clubs from the five eastern states have filled 33 of 632 places (5.2%), although the East is home to 14.8% of Germany’s population. Only 5 eastern clubs have played top-flight football since 1991, and in 8 seasons, including 7 in a row from 2009/10, there was none.
Places since 1991/92
| Places | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern states | 33 | 5.2% |
| East Berlin | 7 | 1.1% |
| West Berlin | 24 | 3.8% |
| Western states | 568 | 89.9% |
632 places in 35 seasons. Seasons without any club from the former East (Union Berlin included): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16.
Every eastern club since unification
- Hansa Rostock 12 seasons · Rostock1991/92, 1995/96–2004/05, 2007/08
- RB Leipzig 10 seasons · Leipzig2016/17–2025/26
- Union Berlin 7 seasons · Berlin2019/20–2025/26
- Energie Cottbus 6 seasons · Cottbus2000/01–2002/03, 2006/07–2008/09
- Dynamo Dresden 4 seasons · Dresden1991/92–1994/95
- VfB Leipzig 1 season · Leipzig1993/94
How we counted
For every season from 1991/92 to 2025/26 we took the clubs in the final 1. Bundesliga table (20 clubs in 1991/92, 18 since) and coded each club by the city and state of its home ground. Berlin clubs are split by the old border: Hertha BSC (Charlottenburg) is West Berlin, Union Berlin (Köpenick) is East Berlin. A “place” is one club in one season. Shares and counts are our calculation.
- Population share for comparison: Destatis, population on 31 December 2025 (tab. 12411-b01): the five eastern states have 12.35 million of 83.47 million inhabitants (14.8%).
- Club names follow current usage; Bayer Uerdingen and KFC Uerdingen are the same club.