NRW, often known as North Rhine-Westphalia or North-Rhine/Westphalia,[a] is a state (Land) in Western Germany. It is Germany’s most populated state, home to about 18 million people. It is also the most densely inhabited state in Germany, excluding the city-states. With a land area of 34,084 square kilometers,160 square miles), it ranks as the fourth largest state in Germany in terms of area.