Before we dive into the Germany facts, let us learn about Germany very quickly. Germany is a country located at the intersection of Western Europe and Central Europe. It is officially called the Federal Republic of Germany. Berlin is the capital city of Germany.
Germany is one of the few countries that has given a lot to the world especially in this technology-driven world. However, it is not just work that happens in Germany. Learn some cool and interesting Germany facts to know more about this wonderful country.
Germany Facts 1-9
1. Germany has a population of 83 million people. Similar to other countries, the majority of the population live in towns and cities. Berlin, the capital city, has a population of 3.5 million people.
2. Germany has other names like Federal Republic of Germany and Bundesrepublik Deutschland. The nickname for Germany is the Land der Dichter und Denker which means country of poets and thinkers .
3. The official language spoken in Germany is German. 99% of the population is literate. Christians are the majority with 34% protestants and 34% Roman Catholics.
4. The currency used is Euro. However before 2001, Germany used Deutsche Mark or German Mark (DM) as currency.
5. The country is located in the center of Europe. It shares borders with a total of 9 countries which are Poland, Denmark, Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Luxembourg, France, Belgium, and Netherlands.
6. It is the second most populous country in central Europe. Russia is the first populous country.
7. The north part of Germany is bordered by the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the lowlands whereas, Lake Constance and the Alps (mountain range) borders the south part of Germany.
8. The highest mountain in the country is Zugspitze meaning windy peak. It has an altitude of 9,721 feet or 2,963 meters.
9. Famous cities of Germany are Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg, etc. Main attractions of the nation are the castles, black forest, art museums, carnival festivals, and the Alps mountains.
Germany Facts 10-18
10. Popular sports in Germany are tennis, swimming, soccer, and skiing.
11. Most of the German cuisine consists of meat, especially pork, fish, veal or beef. Pasta and potatoes are equally popular. Pretzels, schweinsbraten, and rinderbraten are some of the famous German dishes. Other famous dishes include weisswurst, rotkraut, spargel, stollen, lebkuchen, sauerkraut, etc.
12. Germany has an area of 137,847 square miles. Did you know that one-third of the country is covered with woodlands and forests?
13. 65% of the German highways don’t have a speed limit.
14. Universities are free for both German and non-German students.
15. There are over 2,100 castles in Germany.
16. Berlin has more bridges than Venice, and is nine times bigger than Paris.
17. Germany has 16 states. Each state has its own constitution and is highly autonomous in internal matters. Bavaria is the largest state in Germany.
18. It is the largest economy in the European Union or the EU. It has a GDP or Gross Domestic Product of 3.73 trillion USD and secures fourth position after the USA, China, and Japan.
Germany Facts 19-27
19. Weimer, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Aachen, Bonn, and Frankfurt-am-Main have been the capital cities of Germany at one time or another in the past.
20. One of the largest car producers in the world is Germany. It sold 5.9 million cars in 2011 alone. Germany’s top selling car brands are Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes, and BMW.
21. The first ever printed book was in German. Germany publishes over 94,000 titles each year. The first magazine launched in the world was in Germany in 1663.
22. The first country to adopt DST or Daylight Saving Time in the world is Germany. It adopted DST in 1916 in the middle of World War I.
23. German is the third most widely taught language in the world. It is the official language of countries like Switzerland, Luxembourg, Austria, and Liechtenstein. There are around 35 dialects of the language.
24. The longest word in German is Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft. The word is 79/80 letters long.
25. There are more than three hundred bread varieties and a thousand sausage varieties present in the country. It is also the second largest consumer of the alcoholic beverage, beer.
26. Oktoberfest is the biggest beer festival in the world. It takes place in Bavaria’s Munich. The size of the beer jug or glass is a liter! It started on 12 October 1810.
27. The tradition of the Christmas tree started in Germany. There are over 400 zoos in Germany which is the highest for any country in the world. There are over 97 nature reserves too. These reserves try to protect endangered animals like beavers, a specific species of whales, and minx. Some of the animals that can be found in Germany are boar, wildcats, ibex, etc.
Germany Facts 28-36
28. Did you know that the chancellor, Angela Merkel has a Barbie made after her? The chancellor’s office in Berlin is locally called the washing machine.
29. Toilet papers of Germans are as soft and consistent as a paper towel. Most of the taxis in Germany are Mercedes.
30. The narrowest street in the world is the Spreuerhofstrasse present in Reutlingen. It is just 31 centimeters or one foot wide at the narrowest point.
31. There is no punishment for a prisoner trying to escape from the jail in Germany, because they believe it is the basic human instinct to stay free.
32. The parliament of Germany is called Bundestag. The flag consists of three colors red, black, and yellow.
33. Some of the famous composers from Germany include Bach, Beethoven, Wagner, and Schuman.
34. Germany was divided into two parts in 1949 after the loss in World War II. The west part was called the Federal Republic of Germany and the east was Communist German Democratic Republic. West part emerged as the richest country of Europe, but the east part failed terribly. West and east reunited again in 1989 and Germany had to invest billions of dollars to modernize the east part.
35. Germany is known for its innovation. Some of the notable inventions are X-ray technique, air bags, vehicle automobiles, MP3 format, etc.
36. According to the 2019 Best Countries global survey of 20,000 people, more people choose to buy cars or automobiles made in Germany than any other country.
Germany Facts 37-45
37. The legends of Easter Bunny and gummy bear candies originated in Germany.
38. Germans sing only the third stanza of the whole national anthem. The USA sings only the first four stanzas of the entire national anthem.
39. Dinner for One TV show is the most frequently repeated TV show aired in Germany.
40. You cannot show your middle finger in Germany. It is illegal and if you do, you will receive a fine and police letter. As per a law in Germany, your first name should properly depict your gender. Else, the government can simply reject confusing and weird baby names. Re-applying is a costly affair, and hence, parents settle with well known names.
41. There is a German legend that open windows invite illnesses. It is believed that fresh air through open windows can invite diseases like flu and achy joints. It is also bad luck to wish someone a birthday in advance.
42. There is a cake called Fantakuchen or Fanta cake. It is simply delicious, and is a popular dessert. Fanta originated in Germany during the second world war.
43. In German thanks means, no. If someone asks you to have another coffee and you say Danke, the actual meaning is “no, thanks.” If you say bitte it means “yes, please!”
44. Angela Merkel announced that nuclear plants would be closed by 2022.
45. Sundays in Germany are to be enjoyed literally. Everything is closed except churches. You can’t renovate your house because drilling is illegal on Sunday! Did you know Sunday is called Ruhetag or the quiet day in German?
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