Germany is a country located in central Europe. It is the seventh-largest country in Europe, with a population of approximately 83 million people. Germany is a federal parliamentary republic, with a government based on a system of representative democracy.

Germany is known for its strong economy, which is the fourth-largest in the world by nominal GDP. The country is home to many world-famous companies, including BMW, Volkswagen, and Siemens, and is a major exporter of goods such as machinery, cars, chemicals, and electronics.

The official language of Germany is German, which is spoken by the majority of the population. The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, including literature, music, art, and philosophy. Some of the world's most famous composers, such as Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner, were German.

Germany has a long and complex history, including the periods of the Holy Roman Empire, the Prussian Empire, and the Weimar Republic. During World War II, Germany was a major power and played a central role in the conflict. The country was divided after the war, with the eastern part under Soviet influence and the western part becoming a democracy. The country was reunified in 1990, following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Today, Germany is a member of the European Union and is a key player in international affairs. The country is known for its strong stance on human rights and environmental issues, and is a leader in the development of renewable energy sources.

Telephone Code
49

Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance and Fire: 112; Police: 110

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations

Climate
Temperate, and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasionally warm mountain (foehn) wind

Currency (Code)
Euros (EUR)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F

Major Languages
German

Major Religions
Roman Catholic 27.7%, Protestant 25.5%, Muslim 5.1%, Orthodox 1.9%

Potable Water
Yes

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Brandenburg Gate; Cologne Cathedral; Black Forest; Neuschwanstein Castle; Miniatur Wunderland & Historic Port of Hamburg; Heidelberg; Dresden; Nuremberg; Munich; Saxon Switzerland State Park; Rhine Valley; Berlin's Museum Island; Rothenburg and the Romantic Road

Major Sports
Soccer, handball, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball

Cultural Practices
Punctuality is considered a virtue in Germany. It is polite to telephone and let your host know if you will be more than 15 minutes late.

Tipping Guidelines
Round up the bill in a restaurant. If the service is particularly good, you may add a few euros and/or leave a 5-10% tip. Tip taxi drivers 5-10% of the total fare. Tip porters 1-2 euros per bag. Leave 1-2 euros for housekeeping per night.

Souvenirs
Carved wooden cuckoo clocks, music boxes, nutcracker figurines, and Christmas ornaments; crystal, porcelain, and glassware; traditional clothing, beer steins and glasses, Steiff teddy bears, Hummel figurines, antiques

Traditional Cuisine
Sauerbraten — beef braised in a marinade typically consisting of red wine vinegar, cloves, nutmeg, peppercorns, cinnamon, ginger, and juniper berries and simmered in a pot for several hours; typically served with potato dumplings and red cabbage

Geography
Area
total: 357,022 sq km
land: 348,672 sq km
water: 8,350 sq km

Climate
temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind

Natural resources
coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land

People and Society
Population
84,220,184 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
German 86.3%, Turkish 1.8%, Polish 1%, Syrian 1%, Romanian 1%, other/stateless/unspecified 8.9% (2020 est.)

Languages
German (official); note - Danish, Frisian, Sorbian, and Romani are official minority languages; Low German, Danish, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, and Romani are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Religions
Roman Catholic 26.7%, Protestant 24.3%, Muslim 3.5%, other 4.8%, none 40.7% (2020 est.)

Population growth rate
-0.12% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
federal parliamentary republic

Capital
name: Berlin

Economy
Economic overview
leading EU service-based export-driven economy; highly skilled and educated labor force; fairly fiscally conservative; energy-related economic disruptions due to Russian gas cessations; increased defense spending and rising debts

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$4.424 trillion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$53,200 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
milk, pork, wheat, beef, potatoes, barley, rapeseeds, chicken, eggs, sugar beets

Industries
automotive, mechanical engineering, chemicals, electrical and batteries, manufacturing, metals, finance and banking, telecommunications, healthcare, retail

Exports
$2.004 trillion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
United States 9%, China 8%, France 8%, Netherlands 6%, United Kingdom 6% (2020)

Exports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, aircraft, industrial machinery (2020)

Imports
$1.775 trillion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
China 10%, Netherlands 10%, Poland 7%, France 6%, Italy 6% (2020)

Imports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, medical cultures/vaccines, computers (2020)