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: Ten years later a wave of immigration has left its markby The Local Germany on August 30, 2025
From the moment that former Chancellor Angela Merkel said her three most famous words, immigration has been stuck firmly at the centre of German politics. This week we're talking about how the country, and its politics, have since shifted.
- PayPal says it has resolved payment disruption in Germanyby The Local Germany on August 30, 2025
Online payment service provider PayPal said Friday it had resolved a glitch that may have blocked billions in payments in Europe this week.
- 'Trans' neo-Nazi shakes up gender debate in Germanyby The Local Germany on August 30, 2025
A fierce debate has erupted in Germany around a neo-Nazi provocateur who was ordered to serve time in a women's prison after legally changing gender, and has now not shown up to serve the sentence.
- Hope and hate: How migrant influx has changed Germanyby The Local Germany on August 29, 2025
Ten years after the peak of a massive wave of immigration to Germany, the country has been significantly altered.
- France and Germany to provide more air defence to Ukraineby The Local Germany on August 29, 2025
France and Germany will provide more air-defence hardware for Ukraine after "massive" Russian airstrikes in recent days, the key EU members said in a joint statement on Friday.
- Unemployment in Germany hits ten year highby The Local Germany on August 29, 2025
German unemployment topped three million in August for the first time in over a decade, official data showed Friday, in another blow to Europe's struggling top economy.
- The schoolyard terms you need to understand your German-speaking kidsby The Local Germany on August 29, 2025
When foreign parents send their children to German primary schools, they often come back with a whole new vocabulary of playground slang. Here's our guide to the main terms to know.
- Why Germans are falling out of love with Mallorcaby The Local Germany on August 29, 2025
Mallorca has long been the favourite place in Spain for German tourists, residents and second homeowners, but recent data suggest that the Mediterranean island is losing its appeal among its main tourism market.
- What passengers from Germany should know about European train travelby The Local Germany on August 29, 2025
If you travel in Germany by train you get used to a certain way of doing things: you keep quiet, you expect delays, you manage tickets with the DB app. In other countries things can be a bit different, so here are some tips for European train travel.
- How to get Germany's WBS certificate for affordable housingby The Local Germany on August 29, 2025
It can be hard finding affordable accommodation in Germany, especially if you're on a low income. Having a 'Wohnberechtigungsschein', or social housing eligibility certificate, can help. We break down what it is and how to get one.
- Get digital postage stamps easily in Germany with this one cool trickby The Local Germany on August 28, 2025
Deutsche Post’s ‘Mobile Briefmarke’ service lets you buy and use a stamp directly from your smartphone. No printer, no fuss – just your phone and a pen.
- What’s on in Germany: Ten unmissable events this Septemberby The Local Germany on August 26, 2025
There’s more to September in Germany than Oktoberfest. From world-renowned festivals to inspiring art and literature, here are ten notable events to mark on your calendars this September.
- Everything that changes in Germany in September 2025by The Local Germany on August 20, 2025
From an Oktoberfest tent refusing cash payments to new data protection rules for personal devices, Spotify price increases, and the beginning of the Autumn season, here's a look at what's changing in Germany this September.
- 'Get uncomfortable': 5 expert tips for job hunting in Germanyby The Local Germany on August 6, 2025
Germany reportedly lacks a record number of workers and yet many job-seekers suggest that finding work is harder than ever. The Local spoke to a professional development coach about strategies for finding and securing new opportunities.
- When will German airports scrap the 100ml liquid limit for hand baggage?by The Local Germany on August 1, 2025
New screening equipment at place in several German airports should allow passengers to bring more liquids with them on flights. So when will the 100 ml limit be dropped?
- Five of Germany’s busiest tourist attractions and where to go insteadby The Local Germany on July 11, 2025
Germany has thousands of castles, countless beer festivals and quite a few cathedrals with world heritage status. We look at the destinations where tourists pack in like sardines, and suggest a few worth visiting with lighter crowds.
- Six things to do on a rainy day in Munichby The Local Germany on January 15, 2025
Munich is a city that's known for its outdoor lifestyle, from sprawling parks to al fresco dining. But on rainy days - which tend to come often in Germany - you can still find plenty to do.
- How foreign residents in Germany are winning rent reductionsby The Local Germany on May 2, 2024
Rent is often the biggest expense for foreign residents in Germany. Even though there are rent controls in some cities, tenants can still be charged too much. Readers shared how they managed to get a rent reduction.
- Why is the German flag black, red and gold?by The Local Germany on September 1, 2023
The German flag's distinctive black, red and gold stripes date back to the 19th century. We look at the history around the colours, what they represent and how Germans feel about their flag.
- EXPLAINED: What I was asked about in my German citizenship testby The Local Germany on May 26, 2023
If you're taking the German citizenship test, you'll be hit with a random selection of questions on anything from former German chancellors to returning a faulty TV. Here are some of the questions I faced - and some tips for preparing for the unexpected.