Municipalities (
Gemeinden, more accurately translated as "communities") are the lowest level of official territorial division in
Germany. This is most commonly the fourth level of territorial division, ranking after the
Land (state),
Kreis (district) and
Samtgemeinde (collective municipality). The
Gemeinde which is one level lower in those
states also includes
Regierungsbezirke (singular:
Regierungsbezirk) as an intermediate territorial division. The
Gemeinde is one level higher if it is not part of a
Samtgemeinde. Only 10 municipalities in Germany have fifth level administrative subdivisions and all of them are in
Bavaria. The highest degree of autonomy is enjoyed by
Gemeinden which are not part of a
Kreis. These
Gemeinden are referred to as
Kreisfreie Städte or
Stadtkreise, sometimes translated as having "city status". This can be the case even for small municipalities. However, many smaller municipalities have lost this city status in various administrative reforms in the last 40 years when they were incorporated into a
Kreis. In some states they retained a higher measure of autonomy than the other municipalities of the
Kreis (e.g.
Große Kreisstadt). Municipalities titled
Stadt (town or city) are urban municipalities while those titled
Gemeinde are classified as rural municipalities.