Area Total | 357,022 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 |
Imports | Netherlands 13.8%, China 7%, France 6.6%, Belgium 5.9%, Italy 5.4%, Poland 5.4%, Czechia 4.8%, US 4.5%, Austria 4.3%, Switzerland 4.2% (2017) – machinery, data processing equipment, vehicles, chemicals, oil and gas, metals, electric equipment, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, agricultural products |
Government | federal parliamentary republic |
Capital | Berlin |
Population | 80.6 million (July 2017 est.) |
Ethnicity | German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Polish, Italian, Romanian, Syrian, and Greek) |
Language | German (official) note: Danish, Frisian, Sorbian, and Romani are official minority languages; |
Exports | US 8.8%, France 8.2%, China 6.8%, Netherlands 6.7%, UK 6.6%, Italy 5.1%, Austria 4.9%, Poland 4.7%, Switzerland 4.2% (2017) – motor vehicles, machinery, chemicals, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, metals, transport equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, rubber and plastic products |
News about Germany
- Inside Germany: Hard-hitting tariffs, cherry blossoms and spring time festivitiesby The Local Germany on April 5, 2025
From Germany's response to Trump's sweeping tariffs to the annual traditions you wont want to miss your chance to try this April, here's what we're talking about this week at The Local.
- Bosnian Serb statelet expels German junior ministerby The Local Germany on April 5, 2025
Bosnian-Serb police on Friday expelled a German junior minister from their territory after she met with opposition groups amid tension over Serb efforts to break away from the central authorities.
- Where to run a marathon in Germany in 2025by The Local Germany on April 4, 2025
The Berlin Marathon is among the most popular in the world, but Germany is home to dozens of interesting marathon races spread across the country. Here's a list of foot races you can still sign up for in 2025.
- Germany says adding explosive drones to weapons arsenalby The Local Germany on April 4, 2025
Germany said Friday it would buy explosive drones for the first time as Berlin boosts investments in its armed forces to counter the threat from Russia.
- Everything you need to know about Germany's 'Schufa' credit scoreby The Local Germany on April 4, 2025
From securing an apartment to buying a car, your Schufa credit score can have impact almost every area of life in Germany. We look at how it's calculated and what the numbers mean.
- How to navigate roads and trains in Germany over the Easter holidaysby The Local Germany on April 4, 2025
The days leading up to Easter are often among the busiest days of the year for rail and road travel in Germany. Here's what holidaymakers can expect.
- German factory orders stagnate despite rebound hopesby The Local Germany on April 4, 2025
German industrial orders stagnated in February despite hopes of a rebound, data showed Friday, highlighting weakness in Europe's biggest economy even before US President Donald Trump unleashed his tariff blitz.
- Germany set for soaring temperatures ahead of frosty weekendby The Local Germany on April 4, 2025
The weather in Germany is set to take us on a true spring rollercoaster this weekend, with highs over 20C on Friday making way for a sudden chill on Saturday.
- German industry grapples with AI at trade fairby The Local Germany on April 4, 2025
Artificial intelligence is set to bring sweeping change to modern life, but at an industrial fair in Germany many companies wonder how they fit into the tech revolution.
- 'Always be vigilant': Expert tips for finding an apartment in Berlinby The Local Germany on April 3, 2025
Finding a long-term apartment to rent in Berlin has become an infamously painful process. We spoke to two professionals about the best tips for securing a long-term rental contract in Germany.
- German Word of the Day: die Zölleby The Local Germany on April 3, 2025
With sweeping new US tariffs making headlines again, there's no better time to learn the word Zölle - the German term at the heart of every trade dispute.
- Will legal insurance pay for a lawsuit to speed up German citizenship?by The Local Germany on April 3, 2025
Fed up with long waiting times for citizenship, many foreigners in Germany choose to file an 'Untätigkeitsklage' to try and expedite the process. We look at whether you can pay for this lawsuit using your German legal insurance.
- UK government set to enforce major travel change for British dual nationalsby The Local Germany on April 3, 2025
The UK government appears to be planning a major change for British dual nationals - with the introduction of new rules that would force dual nationals to either use their UK passport when travelling into the UK (or spend £550 on a Certificate of Entitlement), according to a Home Office fact sheet.
- 'Inflation day': How Germany is responding to the latest round of US tariffsby The Local Germany on April 3, 2025
In the latest blow to the German economy, US President Donald Trump announced blanket tariffs of 20 percent on all EU imports on Wednesday. How have German business leaders, politicians and the media responded to the news?
- Why German states want to make it cheaper to get a driver's licenceby The Local Germany on April 3, 2025
Getting your drivers licence in Germany is a notoriously long and expensive process. Now state transport ministers are lobbying the German government to reduce the costs involved.
- Confusion surrounds ETA visa waiver process for some dual national Britsby The Local Germany on April 1, 2025
After weeks of confusion and contradictory advice over the workings of the UK's ETA visa waiver for British dual nationals, the British government has told The Local that British dual nationals do not need an ETA - even if they are not travelling on their UK passport.
- Wild garlic and nettles: The spring herbs to forage for in Germanyby The Local Germany on March 31, 2025
Foraging for edible plants can be a fun way to connect with Germany's nature and traditions. Here are some of the herbs you can find, harvest and eat in spring.
- Can you get a job in Germany without German language skills?by The Local Germany on November 25, 2024
Many foreigners who don't speak German - or have only basic knowledge - hope to find a job in Germany. We look at recent data and analyse how open the job market is to non-German speakers.
- Why are people in German-speaking countries so obsessed with Schlager music?by The Local Germany on March 23, 2023
Schlager icon Helene Fischer is a star in German speaking countries. So what is Schlager music — and how did Fischer become its modern representative?
- Nine expressions that perfectly sum up spring in Germanyby The Local Germany on April 25, 2022
As the days get warmer and the streets are awash with bright green foliage and flowers, there are a few German words and expressions that you may find handy this season.