Flag of Germany - Fast facts

Government: Federal Republic Area: 357,021 sq km Population: 83,251,851 Capital: Berlin Language: German

Currency: EUR Religion: Protestant and Roman Catholic Climate: temperate and maritime Time zone: +1 GMT Member of EU: Yes

Geography

Since its reunification in 1989, Germany is once again one of the largest countries in Europe with Berlin as its capital once more. Without doubt Germany contains many geographical features varying from coast if of the Baltic and North seas to the ecosystem of the Alps.
Germany's 357,000 sq km are home to some 82 million people with almost 80% living in urban areas. Germany shares borders with Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland.

Germany is divided into 16 federal provinces (Bundesländer):

Population

Germany's population is predominantly Caucasian, with a significant Turkish minority. Germany has also absorbed a significant number of refugees from the former Yugoslavia. German is the main language spoken, although local German dialects can be prevalent.
Germany is a fairly secular country. Even though the vast majority of the country is Christian with 38% of the population considering themselves protestant and almost 34% as catholic. Jewish and Muslim minorities are also significant within Germany.

Weather and Climate in Germany

Germany's climate is almost as varied as its countryside but is mostly temperate. Extreme lows and highs in temperatures are rare. Winter temperatures vary from east to west, with around freezing temperatures in the west and well below freezing in eastern Germany. Summer temperatures in Germany are typically between 20 and 30°C, with more rainfall during the summer months.