Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Germany (German: Deutschland, officially the Federal Republic of Germany is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometers (137,847 sq mi), it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south. It borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west.
Various Germanic tribes have inhabited the northern parts of modern Germany since classical antiquity. A region named Germania was documented before AD 100. Beginning in the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire. During the 16th century, northern German regions became the centre of the Protestant Reformation.
After the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire, the German Confederation was formed in 1815. In 1871, Germany became a nation-state when most of the German states unified into the Prussian-dominated German Empire.
After World War I and the German Revolution of 1918–1919, the Empire was replaced by the parliamentary Weimar Republic. The Nazi seizure of power in 1933 led to the establishment of a dictatorship, World War II, and the Holocaust. After the end of World War II in Europe and a period of Allied occupation, two new German states were founded: West Germany and East Germany. The Federal Republic of Germany was a founding member of the European Economic Community and the European Union. The country was reunified on 3 October 1990.
Today, Germany is a federal parliamentary republic led by a chancellor. With 83 million inhabitants of its 16 constituent states, it is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia, as well as the most populous member state of the European Union. Its capital and largest city is Berlin, and its financial centre in Frankfurt; the largest urban area is the Ruhr.
Capital Berlin
52°31′N 13°23′E
Largest city Berlin (city proper)
Rhine-Ruhr (metropolitan area)
Official language
and national language German
Demonym(s) German
Formation
• German Empire
1871
• Weimar Republic
1918
• Nazi Germany
1933
• West and East Germany
1949
• Reunification
1990
Area
• Total
357,022 km2 (137,847 sq mi)
Population
• 30-09-2019 estimate
Increase 83,149,300
• Density
232/km2 (600.9/sq mi)
GDP (PPP) 2019 estimate
• Total
$4.444 trillion
• Per capita
$52,559
GDP (nominal) 2019 estimate
• Total
$3.863 trillion
• Per capita
$46,653
Currency Euro (€) (EUR)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+2 (CEST)
Driving side right
Germany (German: Deutschland, officially the Federal Republic of Germany is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometers (137,847 sq mi), it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south. It borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west.
Various Germanic tribes have inhabited the northern parts of modern Germany since classical antiquity. A region named Germania was documented before AD 100. Beginning in the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire. During the 16th century, northern German regions became the centre of the Protestant Reformation.
After the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire, the German Confederation was formed in 1815. In 1871, Germany became a nation-state when most of the German states unified into the Prussian-dominated German Empire.
After World War I and the German Revolution of 1918–1919, the Empire was replaced by the parliamentary Weimar Republic. The Nazi seizure of power in 1933 led to the establishment of a dictatorship, World War II, and the Holocaust. After the end of World War II in Europe and a period of Allied occupation, two new German states were founded: West Germany and East Germany. The Federal Republic of Germany was a founding member of the European Economic Community and the European Union. The country was reunified on 3 October 1990.
Today, Germany is a federal parliamentary republic led by a chancellor. With 83 million inhabitants of its 16 constituent states, it is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia, as well as the most populous member state of the European Union. Its capital and largest city is Berlin, and its financial centre in Frankfurt; the largest urban area is the Ruhr.
Capital Berlin
52°31′N 13°23′E
Largest city Berlin (city proper)
Rhine-Ruhr (metropolitan area)
Official language
and national language German
Demonym(s) German
Formation
• German Empire
1871
• Weimar Republic
1918
• Nazi Germany
1933
• West and East Germany
1949
• Reunification
1990
Area
• Total
357,022 km2 (137,847 sq mi)
Population
• 30-09-2019 estimate
Increase 83,149,300
• Density
232/km2 (600.9/sq mi)
GDP (PPP) 2019 estimate
• Total
$4.444 trillion
• Per capita
$52,559
GDP (nominal) 2019 estimate
• Total
$3.863 trillion
• Per capita
$46,653
Currency Euro (€) (EUR)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+2 (CEST)
Driving side right
