About Germany
Germany is a country in West-Central Europe that is internationally renowned for its colorful history and vibrant culture. When relocating to, or traveling in, a new country it is often helpful to understand a general outline of the nation. With that in mind we have provided some general information about Germany below.
Official Name: Federal Republic of Germany, also known as Deutschland or simply Germany.
Capital: The capital of Germany is Berlin, located in the north east of the country near Poland.
Location : Germany is situated in West-Central Europe and shares land borders with France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, The Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. Germany is also located directly on the shores of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, giving the country immediate access to some of the worlds busiest ocean trade routes. Due to its location in the center of Europe, Germany often acts as an intermediary between the Eastern and Western European nations in the event of any disputes.
Size: With a total area of 357,021 square kilometers, Germany is slightly smaller than the American State of Montana.
Climate: Germany experiences a temperate climate that can tend to be cool, cloudy and windy. Generally the period from May to September is the best time of the year to visit the country as the weather tends to be warm and sunny. The winters in Germany can get cold, but overall the country is not prone to climatic extremes.
Population: Germany has a total population of approximately 82,400,000 people making it the second most populated country in Europe and the 16 th most populated country in the world, directly behind Vietnam and ahead of Egypt.
Life expectancy at birth: Germany has the 32 nd highest average life expectancy in the world at 78.95 years of age. This can mainly be attributed to the high standard of living in the country and the high quality of the nations healthcare system.
Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: Approximately 0.1% of the German Population is living with HIV/Aids. This is equivalent to almost 43,000 people. Germany Ranks 158 th in the world for prevalence of HIV.
Major illnesses: Most major illnesses in Germany have been eradicated. However, there still remains a threat from Avian Influenza, and common illnesses such as heat stroke and hypothermia. It is recommended that all your vaccinations and immunizations are up-to-date prior to your departure.
Ethnic Groups: Germany is a fairly homogenous country with 91.5% of the population claiming German ethnicity and ancestry. The other 8.5% of the population consists of immigrant groups the largest of which is Turkish at 2.4%. Greeks, Italians, Poles, Russians, and Spaniards make up the remaining 6.1% of the population.
Languages: The main language of Germany is German. It is the only official language of the country.
Religion: There are a number of religions practiced and observed throughout Germany. These are Protestant (34% of the population), Roman Catholic (34%), Muslim (3.7%), Unaffiliated or None (28.3%).
Government: Germany is a Federal Republic. A federal republic is a conglomeration of individual states that are self governed, united under the leadership of a national government. A republic refers to a state that is lead by an individual, or individuals, who are not monarchs.
Head of State: The German head of state is President Horst Koehler.
Head of Government: The head of the German government is Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Military: Since the end of World War II Germany has removed all offensive aspects of its military and now the country's armed forces only fulfill a defensive role. Currently all males in Germany must participate in a mandatory 9 month tour in the nations armed forces or civilian services. At present there are 18 million males available for military service and Germany currently spends approximately 1.5% of it's total GDP on the military every year.
Economy : Germany has the 5 th most powerful economy in the world and the third most powerful economy in Europe. The German economy is extremely reliant on the nations export businesses; however, there are many social and domestic issues that need to be addressed before Germany sees real developments in the markets. Competition and Free enterprise are the hallmarks of the German economy; however the German state provides large numbers of government subsidies to businesses in all industry sectors leading to a large amount of dependence on the state, something that the nation is looking to move away from. With an extremely strong technology and electronics industry, success in banking and a vibrant tourist economy, Germany is continuing to prove that it is indeed one of the strongest and most reliable economies in the world.
GDP: Germany has a purchasing power parity of US$ 2.632 trillion and an actual GDP of US$ 2.875 trillion,
For more information about Germany, the international health insurance plans that we can offer there, or to receive a free quote, please contact one of our expert advisers today.
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