Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland,), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The territory of Germany covers 357,021 square kilometers (137,847 sq mi) and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. With 81.8 million inhabitants in 2010, it has the largest population among member states of the European Union, and it is home to the third-largest number of international migrants worldwide.

A region named Germania, inhabited by several Germanic peoples, has been known and documented before AD 100. Beginning in the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire, which lasted until 1806. During the 16th century, northern Germany became the centre of the Protestant Reformation. As a modern nation-state, the country was first unified amidst the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. After World War II, Germany was divided in 1949 into two separate states—East Germany and West Germany—along the lines of Allied occupation. Germany was reunified in 1990 upon the entry of the German Democratic Republic into the Federal Republic. West Germany was a founding member of the European Community (EC) in 1957, which became the European Union in 1993. It is part of the Schengen Area and adopted the European currency, the euro, in 1999.

Germany is a federal parliamentary republic of sixteen states (Bundesländer). The capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany is a member of the United Nations, NATO, G8, G20, and the OECD. It is a major power with the world's fourth largest economy by nominal GDP and the fifth largest in purchasing power parity. It is the second largest exporter and third largest importer of goods. In absolute terms, Germany allocates the second biggest annual budget of development aid in the world, while its military expenditure ranked seventh. The country has developed a high standard of living and established a comprehensive system of social security. It holds a key position in European affairs and maintains a multitude of close partnerships on a global level. Germany is recognised as a scientific and technological leader in several fields.

Federal Republic of Germany Bundesrepublik Deutschland (German)[note 1]
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Germany (dark green) – on the European continent (light green & dark grey) – in the European Union (light green) — [Legend]
Capital (and largest city)		Berlin 52°31′N 13°23′E / 52.517°N 13.383°E / 52.517; 13.383
Official language(s)		German
Ethnic groups		91.5% German, 8.5% other[1]
Demonym		German
Government		Federal parliamentary republic
-	President	Christian Wulff (CDU)
-	Chancellor	Angela Merkel (CDU)
-	President of the Bundestag	Norbert Lammert (CDU)
Formation
-	Holy Roman Empire	2 February 962
-	Unification	18 January 1871
-	Federal Republic	23 May 1949
-	Reunification	3 October 1990
EU accession		25 March 1957
Area
-	Total	357,021 km2 (63rd) 137,847 sq mi
-	Water (%)	2.416
Population
-	Jan. 1, 2010 estimate	81,757,600 (14th)
-	Density	229/km2 (55th) 593/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2009 estimate
-	Total	$2.806 trillion[3]
-	Per capita	$34,212[3]
GDP (nominal)		2009 estimate
-	Total	$3.352 trillion
-	Per capita	$40,874
Gini (2006)		27 (low)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0.947 (very high) (22nd)
Currency		Euro (€) (EUR)
Time zone		CET (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Drives on the		right
Internet TLD		.de
Calling code		49