CapitalBerlin
Population84,012,284
Area357,022 km²
GDP per capita$62,800
LanguagesGerman
Currencyeuros
Life Expectancy81.9 yr
Governmentfederal parliamentary republic
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. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating world wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key western economic and security organizations, including the EC (now the EU) and NATO, while the communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War allowed German reunification to occur in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.
Geography
Area
land
348,672 sq km
water
8,350 sq km
total
357,022 sq km
Climate
marine and temperate climate characterized by cool, cloudy, and wet winters and summers, with occasional warm winds from the mountains (foehn)
Terrain
low-lying regions in the north, elevated areas in the center, and the Bavarian Alps in the southern part
Land use
other
15% (2023 est.)
forest
32.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
47.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 33.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in Central Europe, adjacent to the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, situated between the Netherlands and Poland, and lying south of Denmark
Coastline
2,389 km
Elevation
lowest point
Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.5 m
highest point
Zugspitze 2,963 m
mean elevation
263 m
Irrigated land
5,065 sq km (2020)
Map references
Europe
Land boundaries
total
3,694 km
border countries
Austria: 801 km; Belgium: 133 km; Czechia: 704 km; Denmark: 140 km; France: 418 km; Luxembourg: 128 km; Netherlands: 575 km; Poland: 447 km; Switzerland: 348 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
flooding
Geography - note
strategically positioned on the North European Plain and near the entrance to the Baltic Sea; most of Germany's major rivers, including the Rhine, Weser, Oder, and Elbe, flow in a northern direction, while the Danube, which begins in the Black Forest, flows eastward
Natural resources
coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, and agricultural land
Area - comparative
three times larger than Pennsylvania; marginally smaller than Montana
Geographic coordinates
51 00 N, 9 00 E
Population distribution
the second most populous nation in Europe; population is relatively evenly distributed across much of the country, with urban centers experiencing higher and denser populations, especially in the far-western industrial region of North Rhine-Westphalia
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Stettiner Haff/Zalew Szczecinski (shared with Poland) - 900 sq km
fresh water lake(s)
Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Austria) - 540 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Donau (Danube) river source (shared with Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Elbe river mouth (shared with Czechia [s]) - 1,252 km; Rhein (Rhine) (shared with Switzerland [s], France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
People & Society
Languages
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
major-language sample(s)
Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Roman Catholic 24.8%, Protestant 22.6%, Muslim 3.7%, other 5.1%, none 43.8% (2022 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.03 male(s)/female
total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.81 male(s)/female
Birth rate
8.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
11.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
45.5 years
total
46.9 years (2025 est.)
female
48.3 years
Population
male
41,517,301
total
84,012,284 (2025 est.)
female
42,494,983
Nationality
noun
German(s)
adjective
German
Tobacco use
male
19.4% (2025 est.)
total
17.2% (2025 est.)
female
15% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
77.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
13.8% (male 5,925,800/female 5,688,603)
15-64 years
62.5% (male 26,705,657/female 25,875,865)
65 years and over
23.7% (2024 est.) (male 8,941,245/female 10,981,930)
Ethnic groups
German 85.4%, Turkish 1.8%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Syrian 1.1%, Romanian 1%, Polish 1%, other/stateless/unspecified 8.3% (2022 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
61.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
22.4 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
2.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
38.9 (2025 est.)
Physician density
4.53 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
12.7% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
20.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
1.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
7.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
10.7% national budget (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
total
3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
-0.13% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.77 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the second most populous nation in Europe; there is a relatively even distribution across much of the country, with urban centers drawing larger and denser populations, especially in the far western region of the industrial area of North Rhine-Westphalia
Life expectancy at birth
male
79.6 years
female
84.4 years
total population
81.9 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
5.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
3.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
10.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
1.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.574 million BERLIN (capital), 1.788 million Hamburg, 1.576 million Munich, 1.144 million Cologne, 796,000 Frankfurt (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
22.3% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
29.9 years (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54.4% (2023 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
0.6% (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
17 years (2023 est.)
total
17 years (2023 est.)
female
17 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
characterized by a temperate marine climate, featuring cool, overcast, and rainy winters along with summers that are similarly cool; occasional warm winds originating from the mountains (foehn)
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks
Bergstraße-Odenwald; Harz, Braunschweiger Land; Swabian Alb; TERRA.vita; Vulkaneifel; Thuringia Inselsberg - Drei Gleichen; Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa (which includes parts of Poland); Ries (2023)
total global geoparks and regional networks
8
Land use
other
15% (2023 est.)
forest
32.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
47.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 33.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
77.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
110 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
459 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
476.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
1,197.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
50.628 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
49.8% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
air contamination and acid precipitation resulting from coal combustion in power plants and industrial operations; water contamination stemming from untreated sewage and industrial discharges; improper disposal of hazardous waste
Total water withdrawal
municipal
10.713 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
14.005 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
1.075 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
600.192 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
159.097 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
163.407 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
277.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
10.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
154 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold
history: these colors date back to the medieval standard of the Holy Roman Emperor -- featuring a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold background
Capital
name
Berlin
etymology
the exact origin of the name remains uncertain but may be linked to the Old Slavic (Polabian) term berl or birl, signifying "swamp" and alluding to the initial settlement site by the Spree River
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, starts on the last Sunday of March; concludes on the last Sunday of October
geographic coordinates
52 31 N, 13 24 E
Suffrage
18 years old; universal; 16 years for certain state and municipal elections
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a German citizen or a resident alien who has lived in Germany at least 8 years
dual citizenship recognized
yes, but requires prior permission from government
residency requirement for naturalization
8 years
Constitution
history
previously established under the 1919 Weimar Constitution; the most recent one was drafted from 10-23 August 1948, ratified on 12 May 1949, promulgated on 23 May 1949, and became effective on 24 May 1949
amendment process
proposed by the Parliament; to pass and become law, it requires a two-thirds majority vote from both the Bundesrat (upper house) and the Bundestag (lower house) of Parliament; amendments to articles concerning fundamental human rights and freedoms are prohibited
Country name
former
German Reich
etymology
the name's origin is ambiguous; it might derive from Celtic terms meaning "neighboring people," or from Germanic terms that translate to either "spear man" or "head man;" the native term "Deutsch" originates from the Old High German "diutisc," which means "national"
local long form
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form
Deutschland
conventional long form
Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form
Germany
Independence
18 January 1871 (formation of the German Empire); in 1945, post-World War II, it was divided into four occupation zones (UK, US, USSR, and France); the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) was declared on 23 May 1949, encompassing the former UK, US, and French zones; the German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) was established on 7 October 1949, incorporating the former USSR zone; the unification of West Germany and East Germany occurred on 3 October 1990, with all four powers officially relinquishing their rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates include 10 August 843 (the establishment of Eastern Francia from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (the coronation of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor)
Legal system
civil law system
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Federal Court of Justice (the court comprises 127 judges, including the court president, vice presidents, presiding judges, and other judges; it is organized into 25 Senates, which are divided into 12 civil panels, 5 criminal panels, and 8 special panels); Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (composed of 2 Senates each subdivided into 3 chambers, each with a chairman and 8 members)
subordinate courts
Federal Administrative Court; Federal Finance Court; Federal Labor Court; Federal Social Court; each of the 16 federated states or Land has its constitutional court and a tiered structure of ordinary (civil, criminal, family) and specialized (administrative, finance, labor, social) courts; in 2020, two English-speaking commercial courts were established in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg -- the Stuttgart Commercial Court and the Mannheim Commercial Court
judge selection and term of office
judges of the Federal Court of Justice are chosen by the Judges Election Committee, which consists of the Secretaries of Justice from each of the 16 federated states and 16 members appointed by the Federal Parliament; judges are appointed by the president; they serve until the mandatory retirement age of 65; half of the judges on the Federal Constitutional Court are elected by the House of Representatives and the other half by the Senate; judges are appointed for 12-year terms with mandatory retirement at age 68
Executive branch
cabinet
the Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) are nominated by the chancellor and appointed by the president
chief of state
President Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (since 19 March 2017)
election results
2025: Friedrich MERZ (CDU) was elected chancellor in a second round; Federal Parliament vote - 325 to 289
2022: Frank-Walter STEINMEIER was reelected president; Federal Convention vote breakdown - Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (SPD) 1,045, Max OTTE (CDU) 140, Gerhard TRABERT (The Left) 96, Stefanie GEBAUER (Free Voters) 58, abstentions 86
head of government
Chancellor Friedrich MERZ (since 6 May 2025)
most recent election date
president: 13 February 2022
chancellor: 6 May 2025
election/appointment process
the president is indirectly elected by a Federal Convention that includes all members of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) and a corresponding number of delegates indirectly elected by state parliaments; the president serves a term of 5 years (eligible for a second term); following the latest Federal Parliament election, the party or coalition with the most representatives typically selects the chancellor, who is appointed by the president to serve a renewable term of 4 years
expected date of next election
president: February 2027
National holiday
German Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
National color(s)
black, red, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
56 (54 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Museumsinsel (Museum Island) in Berlin (c); the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (c); Speyer Cathedral (c); Aachen Cathedral (c); Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau, and Bernau (c); Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura (c); Roman Monuments, the Cathedral of St. Peter, and the Church of Our Lady in Trier (c); Hanseatic City of Lübeck (c); the Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof (c); Würzburg Residence along with the Court Gardens and Residence Square (c); Pilgrimage Church of Wies (c); the Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Brühl (c); St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church in Hildesheim (c); Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch (c); the Maulbronn Monastery Complex (c); the Collegiate Church, Castle, and Old Town of Quedlinburg (c); Cologne Cathedral (c); Castle Church in Wittenberg (c); Classical Weimar (c); Wartburg Castle (c); the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz (c); Monastic Island of Reichenau (c); Berlin Modernism Housing Estates (c); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Moravian Church Settlements (c); Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District featuring Chilehaus (c); The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (c); the Archaeological Border complex of Hedeby and the Danevirke (c); Naumburg Cathedral (c); Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt (c); ShUM Sites of Speyer, Worms, and Mainz (c); The Great Spa Towns of Europe (c); Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt (c); Schwerin Residence Ensemble (c); The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen, and Herrenchiemsee (c); The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen, and Herrenchiemsee (c)
Political parties
Alliance '90/Greens
Alternative for Germany or AfD
Christian Democratic Union or CDU
Christian Social Union or CSU
Free Democratic Party or FDP
Free Voters or FW
The Left or Die Linke
Social Democratic Party or SPD
Legislative branch
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
“Lied der Deutschen” (Song of the Germans)
history
first adopted in 1922; the anthem, also referred to as "Deutschlandlied" (Song of Germany), was initially adopted due to its association with the liberal revolution of March 1848; the Nazis later misappropriated the first verse -- particularly the phrase "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles" (Germany, Germany above all) -- to foster nationalism, resulting in the anthem being banned post-1945; in 1952, West Germany adopted the third verse as its national anthem; following reunification in 1990, it became the national anthem of a unified Germany
lyrics/music
August Heinrich HOFFMANN VON FALLERSLEBEN/Franz Joseph HAYDN
National symbol(s)
eagle
National coat of arms
Germany’s coat of arms is recognized as the oldest in the world, believed to date back to 1200, and incorporates the national colors of the country; it features the oldest national symbol in Europe, an eagle known as the Bundesadler (Federal Eagle); while the coat of arms has changed throughout history for military or political reasons, the eagle has consistently been a part of its design; this particular version was adopted by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1950
Administrative divisions
16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen (Hesse), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia)
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
German Bundestag (Deutscher Bundestag)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
630 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/23/2025
expected date of next election
February 2029
percentage of women in chamber
32.4%
parties elected and seats per party
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) (164); Alternative for Germany (AfD) (152); Social Democratic Party (SPD) (120); Green Party (85); Left Party (Die Linke) (64); Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) (44); Other (1)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Federal Council (Bundesrat)
number of seats
69 (all appointed)
percentage of women in chamber
34.8%
parties elected and seats per party
SPD 23; CDU 17; Green Party 15; Left Party 4; CSU 3; FW 3; FDP 2; other 2
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 298-4261
chancery
4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone
[1] (202) 298-4000
chief of mission
Ambassador Jens HANEFELD (since 5 September 2025)
consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.germany.info/us-en
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[49] (30) 8305-1215
embassy
Pariser Platz 2, 10117 Berlin
Clayallee 170, 14191 Berlin (administrative services)
telephone
[49] (30) 8305-0
mailing address
5090 Berlin Place, Washington DC 20521-5090
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Alan MELTZER (since July 2024)
consulate(s) general
Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich
email address and website
[email protected]
https://de.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$1.279 trillion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$1.369 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$1.917 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$1.958 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$1.949 trillion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$1.808 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$1.781 trillion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$1.774 trillion (2024 est.)
Industries
iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, automobiles, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles
Labor force
43.772 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2017
63.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
0.876 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
0.924 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
leading export-oriented economy within the EU and eurozone; significant automotive, chemical, engineering, finance, and green energy sectors; economic growth hampered by the energy crisis and decreasing exports; a tight labor market coupled with a declining working-age population; fiscal adjustments in line with the gradual removal of energy price supports
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3.2% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
3.5% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 10%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, China 7%, Italy 6% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 12%, Netherlands 7%, USA 7%, Poland 6%, France 5% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$62,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$62,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$62,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
1.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
-0.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
-0.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, barley, maize, rapeseed, pork, rye, triticale (2023)
Exports - commodities
cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, plastic products, vaccines (2023)
Imports - commodities
cars, vehicle parts/accessories, garments, natural gas, vaccines (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$161.759 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$251.479 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$267.056 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
11% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$4.66 trillion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
49.9% (2023 est.)
government consumption
21.2% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
0.2% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
21.5% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
43.4% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-39.4% (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line
14.8% (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
11.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.3% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$5.274 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$5.26 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$5.247 trillion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
7.4% (2024 est.)
total
6.7% (2024 est.)
female
5.9% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$293.914 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$322.7 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$377.936 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
25.8% (2024 est.)
services
63.9% (2024 est.)
agriculture
0.8% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.9% (2020 est.)
highest 10%
25% (2020 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
32.4 (2020 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
1.68 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
32.933 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production
109.741 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
140.994 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
35.4 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
131,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
115.2 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
2.062 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Electricity
exports
60.316 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
69.353 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
519.691 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
275.658 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
25.774 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
imports
74.989 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
4.337 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
82.371 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
23.39 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Nuclear energy
Percent of total electricity production
1.4% (2023 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
33 (2025)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
120.457 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
25.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
11.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear
1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
49% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
9.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
94% (2024 est.)
Broadcast media
a combination of state-run and privately held television and radio stations; 70 national and regional public broadcasters vie with almost 400 privately owned national and regional television stations; over 90% of households subscribe to cable or satellite television; numerous radio stations exist, comprising national and regional networks as well as a significant number of local stations.
Internet country code
.de
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
38.4 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
45 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
109 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
129 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
38.4 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
45 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
5
small
11
medium
4
key ports
Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Emden, Hamburg, Kiel, Lübeck, Rostock
very small
15
total ports
35 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
12
Airports
840 (2025)
Railways
total
39,379 km (2020) 20,942 km electrified
Heliports
449 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
595 (2023)
by type
1 bulk carrier, 69 container ships, 82 general cargo vessels, 32 oil tankers, 411 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
D
Military & Security
Military - note
The primary objective of the Bundeswehr is to protect Germany and its NATO allies; it undertakes a diverse array of peacetime responsibilities, including crisis management, cyber defense, deterrence, internal security, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and international peacekeeping and stability missions. As a vital participant in both NATO and the EU, the Bundeswehr predominantly functions within a coalition framework, with its capabilities largely aligned to the planning objectives and requirements of NATO and the EU. It has taken part in various NATO and EU operations across Europe, Africa, and Asia, in addition to global maritime missions. The Bundeswehr maintains strong bilateral defense relationships with several EU nations, such as Czechia, France, the Netherlands, and Romania, along with the UK and the US. Furthermore, it provides troops for UN peacekeeping efforts.
The Bundeswehr was founded in 1955. During the peak of the Cold War in the 1980s, it boasted nearly 600,000 personnel, over 7,000 tanks, and 1,000 combat aircraft. Additionally, more than 400,000 soldiers from other NATO nations, including around 200,000 US military members, were stationed in West Germany. Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the conclusion of the Cold War, the Bundeswehr experienced a reduction of more than 60% in personnel (over 90% in tanks and approximately 80% in aircraft), while its budget plummeted from nearly 3% of GDP and over 4% of government expenditure in the mid-1980s to 1.2% and 1.6%, respectively. By the 2010s, the Bundeswehr's capacity to meet its regional security obligations had diminished. The Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, along with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, prompted a renewed focus on Germany's leadership role in European defense and NATO, as well as initiatives to enhance funding for the Bundeswehr to improve its preparedness, modernization, and expansion by 2025.
Military deployments
up to 500 Iraq (NATO); 300 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 170 Lebanon (UNIFIL); up to 1,700 Lithuania (NATO) (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2021
1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2025
2.4% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military and security forces
Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): German Army (Deutsche Heer), German Navy (Deutsche Marine, including the naval air arm), German Air Force (Deutsche Luftwaffe, encompassing air defense), Cyber and Information Space (Cyber und Informationsraum) (2025)
Military service age and obligation
The age range for voluntary military service is 17-23 years for both men and women (must have completed compulsory full-time education and possess German citizenship); the required service period is between 7-23 months or 12 years (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The inventory of the Federal Armed Forces consists of weapons systems manufactured domestically or in collaboration with other European nations, as well as Western imports, particularly from the US. Germany's defense industry is capable of producing a comprehensive range of air, land, and naval military systems. It also engages in joint defense production initiatives with European allies and the US (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
Approximately 185,000 active-duty military personnel (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
USG identification
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
100 (2023 est.)
refugees
3,098,169 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
28,813 (2024 est.)
Space
Space launch site(s)
a commercial offshore launch platform that will operate from the North Sea is under development with both government and private funding (2025)
Space agency/agencies
German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR; founded in 1997) (2025)
Space program overview
boasts one of the largest space initiatives in Europe and serves as a significant contributor to the ESA; designs and manages satellites, satellite launch vehicles (SLVs), probes, and unmanned orbiters; engages in research and development for a variety of technologies and capabilities, including reusable space planes, satellite payloads, rockets, propulsion-assisted landing systems, and aeronautics; takes part in EU and ESA initiatives, which include the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn, exploration missions to Mars and Venus, and the Galileo global navigation satellite system; is involved in ESA's astronaut training program and human spaceflight operations; hosts the European Astronaut Center; engages in international collaborations such as the International Space Station (ISS) and the James Webb Space Telescope; operates mission control centers for the ISS, ESA, and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT); maintains connections with foreign space programs from countries including China, Japan, Russia, and the US; possesses a dynamic commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1969 - The first German scientific satellite (Azur) was launched by the US.
1973 - Collaborated with other European countries, notably France and the UK, in the development of the Ariane satellite launch vehicle.
1978 - The first German astronaut traveled to space aboard the Soviet Salyut space station.
1980s-1990s - Participated in the US Space Shuttle program, including sending astronauts.
1999 - Launched a space-based X-ray telescope (ABRAXIS) using a Russian rocket.
2005 - Initiated the development of a reusable space plane/shuttle/transporter.
2019 - Successfully launched the first space-based X-ray telescope (eROSITA), capable of imaging the entire sky, in a joint effort with Russia.
2023 - Signed the US-led Artemis Accords for lunar and space exploration; implemented a new national space strategy.
