The Federal Republic of Germany is a large country located in the central and northern part of Europe. It borders Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic and Poland. Germany consists of 16 semi-independent states (Bundesländer).

The region now known as Germany has been inhabited by Germanic tribes since prehistoric time. The area became known as Germania during the era of the Roman Empire and became famous because, despite several attempts, the Romans never conquered it. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Germany and surrounding countries became known as the Holy Roman Empire and remained a European power until the 15th Century. Germany then dissolved into small independent states until the Kingdom of Prussia arose in 18th Century. However, after the Napoleonic wars it lost in significance. The area covering modern day Germany was first unified 1871 under the emperor Wilhelm I.

After Germany’s defeat in World War I, the empire was dissolved and the Weimar Republic was born. However, in 1931 national socialists under the leadership of Adolf Hitler rose to power and formed the Third Reich, which lasted until 1945 when the World War II ended with allied victory. The end of World War II also saw Germany divided into a western federal republic and an eastern communist republic. Germany was unified in 1990, almost a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Germany is a member of NATO and the European Union.

Inhabitants: 82,000,000
Area: 360,000 km2
Capital: Berlin (3,400,000 inhabitants)
Languages: German
Religion: Protestant (38%), Roman Catholic (34%), Muslim (2%), unaffiliated or other (26)
GDP (PPP) per capita: $31,400
Government: Parliamentary Federal Republic
Climate: Cool temperate climate