Deutschland

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (in German: Deutschland), is a country in central Europe. It has roughly 83 million inhabitants. The capital and largest city is Berlin. Other major cities include Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne.

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. It lies largely on the North European Plain, with the Alps in the south; the Rhine, Elbe, and Danube are major rivers, and the North Sea and Baltic Sea lie to the north.

Germany is a federal republic composed of 16 states (Länder). The political system is a parliamentary democracy; the chancellor is the head of government and the president holds a largely ceremonial role. The federal legislature consists of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Germany is a member of the European Union, the eurozone, the Schengen Area, and NATO.

Historically, the German lands were unified as the German Empire in 1871, later forming the Weimar Republic. After World War II, the country was divided into West Germany and East Germany until reunification in 1990. Since then, Germany has been a leading European economy and a major global exporter.

Germany has a diversified economy with strengths in automotive, mechanical engineering, chemicals, and services. It emphasizes a social market economy and renewable energy; it anchors many international institutions and research endeavors.

German culture, science, and philosophy have produced figures such as Kant, Goethe, Bach, and Planck. Cultural traditions include festivals, music, and a strong regional identity, supported by a robust system of education and research that underpins a high standard of living.