Germany

Country Summary

Introduction

Background

As Europe's largest economy and second most-populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. Divided after World War II, the decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German reunification in 1990.

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 85.4%, Turkish 1.8%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Syrian 1.1%, Romanian 1%, Poland 1%, other/stateless/unspecified 8.3% (2022 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 24.8%, Protestant 22.6%, Muslim 3.7%, other 5.1%, none 43.8% (2022 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.12% (2023 est.)

Government

Government type

federal parliamentary republic

Capital

name: Berlin

Executive branch

chief of state: President Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (since 19 March 2017)
head of government: Chancellor Olaf SCHOLZ (since 8 December 2021)

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of:
Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 seats statutory, 71 current; members appointed by each of the 16 state governments)
Federal Diet or Bundestag (736 seats statutory, 736 for the 2021-25 term - total seats can vary each electoral term; currently includes 4 seats for independent members; approximately one-half of members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and approximately one-half directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members' terms depend upon the states they represent)

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)

$4.523 trillion (2022 est.)
$4.424 trillion (2021 est.)
$4.311 trillion (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$54,000 (2022 est.)
$53,200 (2021 est.)
$51,800 (2020 est.)

Agricultural products

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

Industries

iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, automobiles, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles


Exports

$2.079 trillion (2022 est.)
$2.004 trillion (2021 est.)
$1.676 trillion (2020 est.)

Exports - partners

US 9%, China 8%, France 8%, Netherlands 6%, UK 6% (2021)

Exports - commodities

cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, medical cultures and vaccines, aircraft, industrial machinery, medical instruments (2021)

Imports

$1.999 trillion (2022 est.)
$1.775 trillion (2021 est.)
$1.454 trillion (2020 est.)

Imports - partners

China 10%, Netherlands 10%, Poland 7%, France 6%, Italy 6%  (2021)

Imports - commodities

cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, medical cultures/vaccines, computers (2021)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)
0.885 (2017 est.)


Page last updated: Friday, March 22, 2024