der  Landesdurchschnitt

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈlandəsˌdʊʁçʃnɪt/

📊 What Exactly is 'der Landesdurchschnitt'?

The German word der Landesdurchschnitt refers to the arithmetic mean of a specific quantity or characteristic, relating to a particular 'Land' (meaning either a federal state within Germany or Austria, or sometimes used synonymously for a country). It is therefore a statistical value indicating the average level of a certain measure across the entire considered 'Land' (state or country).

It is frequently used to make data comparable, for example:

• The average income in a federal state (das Durchschnittseinkommen in einem Bundesland).
• The average unemployment rate of a country (die durchschnittliche Arbeitslosenquote eines Landes).
• The average land consumption per capita in a country (der durchschnittliche Flächenverbrauch pro Kopf in einem Staat).

⚠️ Important: The term 'Land' can mean both a Bundesland (like Bavaria or North Rhine-Westphalia) and a Staat (like Germany or Austria). The context is crucial!

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Der Landesdurchschnitt

The word 'Landesdurchschnitt' is a masculine noun. The article is der.

Singular Declension

Plural Declension

The plural 'die Landesdurchschnitte' is rarely used, as it usually refers to a single, calculated value. However, if referring to different average values (e.g., for different characteristics or years), the plural is grammatically correct.

💡 Example Sentences

1. Das Gehalt liegt über dem Landesdurchschnitt. (The salary is above the state/national average.)
2. Der Landesdurchschnitt der Geburtenrate ist leicht gesunken. (The state/national average birth rate has slightly decreased.)
3. Wir müssen den Landesdurchschnitt bei den Bildungsausgaben erreichen. (We must reach the state/national average for education spending.)
4. Die Kriminalitätsrate in dieser Stadt befindet sich unter dem Landesdurchschnitt. (The crime rate in this city is below the state/national average.)

📈 How 'der Landesdurchschnitt' is Used

The term 'Landesdurchschnitt' is mainly used in statistical analyses, reports, and comparisons. It serves to provide an overall perspective for a federal state or a country and to relate individual regions, cities, or groups to it.

• Context: You often find it in news articles, scientific publications, political discussions, and economic reports.
• Usage: Typical phrases include 'über/unter dem Landesdurchschnitt liegen' (to be above/below the state/national average), 'den Landesdurchschnitt erreichen/übertreffen/unterschreiten' (to reach/exceed/fall short of the state/national average).
• Distinction: While 'der Bundesdurchschnitt' always refers to the average for all of Germany (as the Federal Republic), 'der Landesdurchschnitt' can refer to a federal state or the whole country. 'Der Durchschnitt' or 'der Mittelwert' are more general terms for average and not geographically specific.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic (der): Think of der Wert (the value), der Mittelwert (the mean value), der Durchschnitt (the average) – all related concepts are masculine in German, just like der Landesdurchschnitt.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a map of the Land (state/country) and drawing a line right durch (through) the middle (the 'schnitt' or cut) to find the average value for that land – the Landesdurchschnitt.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

🚨 Beware of Confusion: Do not confuse with 'Landesgrenze' (state/national border) or 'Landesschnitt' (could be, e.g., a typical haircut for the region - rarely used).

😄 A Little Joke

Warum beschwert sich der Statistiker nie über das Wetter?

Weil es ihm egal ist, solange es im Landesdurchschnitt liegt! 😄

Translation:

Why does the statistician never complain about the weather?

Because he doesn't care, as long as it's within the state/national average! 😄

📜 Poem about Averages

Im Land, da misst man kreuz und quer,
mal mehr mal minder, hin und her.
Doch zählt man alles fein zusammen,
befreit von allen Extrem-Dramen,
teilt durch die Zahl, ganz unbeschwert,
erhält man ihn, den Mittelwert.
Der Landesdurchschnitt, klar und rein,
soll Maßstab und Vergleich uns sein.

Translation:

In the land, they measure back and forth,
sometimes more, sometimes less, south and north.
But count it all together neat,
freed from all extreme drama's heat,
divide by the number, light and free,
you get it, the average, you see.
The state/national average, pure and clear,
should be our benchmark and peer.

🧩 Who or What Am I?

Ich bin kein Mensch, doch hab 'nen Wert,
der für ein ganzes Land was lehrt.
Ich zeige, was im Mittel gilt,
ob hoch, ob tief, ein klares Bild.
Mal liegst du drüber, mal darunter,
ich mach' die Statistik bunter.

Wer bin ich?
Auflösung: Der Landesdurchschnitt

Translation:

I am not a person, yet I have a value,
that teaches something for a whole land true.
I show what holds on average,
whether high or low, a clear image.
Sometimes you're above, sometimes below,
I make the statistics brighter, you know.

Who am I?
Solution: Der Landesdurchschnitt (The state/national average)

⚙️ Word Breakdown and Trivia

The word 'Landesdurchschnitt' is a compound noun, composed of:

• Land: Refers to a geographical area (federal state or country).
• -es-: A linking element ('Fugen-s') connecting the two parts of the word.
• Durchschnitt: The average, derived from 'durchschneiden' (to cut through), as one conceptually cuts through the middle of the values.

Trivia: Statistics using Landesdurchschnitte (state/national averages) are essential for political decision-making, for instance, in allocating funding or planning infrastructure projects.