Germany

Capital of Germany: Berlin
Population of Germany: 81,471,834
Total area of Germany: 357,022 km2

Germany is a large country in Europe located in the Central part of the Continent. Its flag is a series of horizontal stripes of black, followed by red, followed by yellow. Its emblem is a large stylized eagle, which is black and red on a yellow background.

Germany population

Germany has an estimated population of 82 million, making it the most populous of the countries in Europe. It has a life expectancy of almost 80 years and a fertility rate of only 1.4 children per woman. The death rate exceeds the birth rate so the population is slowly falling. The population is 91 percent German nationals. There are many immigrants but, because of toughened laws on immigration, the number is less. Many come from Eastern Europe and the former USSR. Christianity is the largest ethnic religion in Germany. A third are Catholics, a third are Protestants and a third or so belong to the Evangelical Church of Germany. About 5 percent of the population is Islamic. German is the official language of the country with many minor languages spoken as well. These include Russian, Turkish, Polish and Kurdish.  

History of Germany

Germany has a colorful history. It originated as a region known as Germania in which Germanic tribes lived prior to 100 CE. German people and countries occupied much of what is the central European portion of the Roman Empire. It was heavily influenced by Martin Luther and the Reformation although its South and Western parts remained Catholic. The Thirty Years’ War was between the Catholics and the Lutherans. It was an occupied country during the Napoleonic Wars and the different states of Germany united in the late 1800s, becoming the German Empire. Germany lost WWI and much of its territory. The Third Reich began in the 1930s and this led to WWII. Germany was divided into East and West Germany after the Second World War until it was reunified again in 1990.

Germany Tourism

Germany is one of the leading tourist destinations in Europe because lies at the heart of the continent. Compared to the rest of the countries in Europe, Germany ranks third in the most visited with 2010 with an estimated 370 million overnights. Germany is also among the safest destinations for travel, according to the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Reports. Germany has come a long way since the 1800s as a destination for the European Grand tour which consisted of stops in Dresden, Weimar, Berlin and Munich (cities in Germany). Playing a major role in history during the Second World War, Germany boasts of long and rich history that has not only made a mark in Europe, but also in the whole world. Travelers should not miss out in any of the numerous tourist spots like the Frisian Islands, the Black Forest, the Neuschwanstein Castle, the Marienplatz, Lake Constance and Cologne Cathedral.

Germans prefer the traditional greeting of a handshake. Use people’s titles and the surname when greeting and only address them with the first name if they insist that you do. It is advisable to greet them with “Herr” or “Frau” plus the title and surname of the person. Always wait for the host to introduce you to other people and then, shake hands with everyone. If Germans invite you to their home or to any place for a meal, always arrive on time. Germans are punctual people so do not arrive later than 15 minutes and do not arrive too early either.