The Federal Republic of Germany is a Central European nation bordered by multiple countries and bodies of water: Poland and the Czech Republic to the east; Austria and Switzerland to the south; France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west; and Denmark, the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea to the north. The total land mass of the country is estimated to be 357, 021 square kilometers—smaller in size than other powerful European Union (EU) nations such as France and Germany—yet it is the most populous of all EU countries, with over 82 million inhabitants. Overall, Germany is a world leader in the realms of science, business, technology, economic power, and political influence.

Governmentally, Germany is a federal parliamentary republic made up of 16 member states (bundesländer), with its capital and largest city of Berlin located in the far north of the country. Germany is not only a member of the EU, but of the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the G8 nation, the G4 nations, and is a signatory of the Kyoto protocol. Current Chancellor Angela Merkel (the first female chancellor of the country, elected in November of 2005) is considered the head of government and exercises supreme executive power over the nation (a role similar to that of a Prime Minister in a parliamentary democracy). As well as being known for its high political profile, Germany has also established an extremely high standard of living for its inhabitants, having a comprehensive health and social security system, a 99% adult literacy rate, low infant mortality, and an extremely well-educated populace. Germany is also known for its strong environmental consciousness and commitment to the Kyoto Treaty, as well as a strong program of development and humanitarian aid to other nations. In the 2007, for example, Germany’s official foreign aid amounted to US$12.3 billion, making it the world’s 2nd largest donor after only the United States. Also crucial to Germany’s economic, cultural, and domestic policy issues is the fact that it is home to the 3rd highest number of international immigrants than any other country in the world (see Immigration and Remittances below).

Demographically, Germany is unique not only for its high number of immigrants (estimated to make up approximately 12% of the population, with up to 19% reporting at least some immediate foreign ancestry), but the country is also known for having the lowest fertility rate in the world (at 1.39 children per mother). This low fertility rate is projected to shrink the population of Germany by between 69 and 74 million people by the year 2050. Immigration, however, is expected to remain high. Currently, the highest percentage of immigrants living in Germany hail from Turkey, with the rest primarily coming from Western and Eastern European nations such as Italy, Serbia, Greece, Poland, and Croatia. Religiously, roughly 64% of the German population reports itself as being Christian (64%), with the remainder reporting as Muslim (4%), Buddhist (0.25%), or Jewish (0.25%). A large percentage of Germans, however, report themselves as having no religious affiliation (nearly 30%). It has long been a highly secular nation.