It currently has 82 seats, a drop from its result in 2017. They are characterized by a strong sense of regional pride,. The constitution is called the Grundgesetz. You can vote by absentee ballot if unable to attend in person. The FDP currently has 92 parliamentary seats, up from 80 in 2017. What is Germany famous for? This is why traditional names are more common in the country. Works councils have been established, and workers have representation on the boards of businesses. Germany has 11,054 municipalities; these are the smallest units with their own administration. Underage Americans might find this one of the most interesting facts about Germany. In the state of Bavaria, beer is actually considered a food! Learn more about our campus in Potsdam, which is just half an hour away from Berlin. Then you have the food and beer that the country is so renowned for. This makes it the European Member state with the highest number of inhabitants, representing 15% of the entire EU population. Seite-Topic-Auf einen Blick | Facts about Germany The Berlin Zoological Garden is also one of the worlds largest zoos, with 84 acres and 1,500 species of animals. It has a largely temperate seasonal climate. How well do you know Germany? They're not the only crop thriving in the shade. Imagine the open road, the wind through your hair and the pedal to the metal. In addition to this, there are currently 111 overhang or so-called balance seats. Before that, we used the Deutsche Mark as our currency. Germany has more than two thousand years of history so you can bet there are many museums. A few years back, it was officially thrown out because its meaning became obsolete in modern times. Here you can learn more about your chances and job opportunities in Germany after graduation! For example, Bavaria (population of nearly 13 million) has six members while Saarland (just under a million inhabitants) has three members. It came into effect on 23 May 1949 and was adopted by the united German state on 3 October 1990. Rather than wave to your German friends, greet them by knocking on the table. The President and the Chancellor dont have to be from the same political party. The population of Germany is 83.02 million (2019), which is the third-largest in Europe. Germany is a federation. Before Berlin, there were five other German capitals including, Aachen, Regensburg, Frankfurt-am-Main, Nuremberg, and Bonn. [/av_promobox], Stay updated on exclusive deals, offers and more, From Berlin to Munich to Hamburg, there are a ton of German cities to explore. 6.7 million liters of beer are consumed at Oktoberfest, the worlds largest beer festival, which ironically takes place in September. It is known as the Land of Poets and Thinkers, Germany has many famous Christmas traditions, Its most famous foods are beer and sausages, It is known for its major cities including Berlin and Hamburg along with its natural areas like the Alps and the Black Forest. The voting age is 18 for European elections and 16 for municipal elections. Fun Facts About German Beer, Interesting Facts About Germany and its Culture. In fact, its nine times bigger, but the most incredible thing is Berlin has an astounding 1,700 bridges! In total, Germany is home to 13 million immigrants who are most commonly from Turkey, Poland, and Italy. Others are a little off-the-beaten-path but theres nothing like a castle-hunting adventure in the German countryside. Here at CBS, we are a climate-neutral university. Ways to get involved with politics or political/social causes in Germany include: Expatica helps make your expat journey the experience you've always wanted. Its believed that knocking on oak is good luck because the devil isnt able to touch the holy wood. it makes sense to learn German in the most efficient way possible. Thats because the majority of the streetlights on each side were installed before the wall came down and appear as different colors due to the bulbs chemical makeup. 15 Interesting Germany Geography Facts You Need to Know. Spirits, on the other hand, cant be enjoyed legally until the age of 18. Are you interested in learning more about Germany? The first vote is a direct vote for a constituency MP. However, be warned; any carnage you cause during your short-lived freedom will result in additional charges. Nevertheless, six federal ministries kept their headquarters in Bonn, and all ministries have offices in both cities. Theres so much to see and do and so many interesting things to learn about this amazing country. The capital city of Germany is Berlin. Although Germany is a key participant in European politics and the majority of its citizens support EU membership, Euroscepticism has increased in recent years. Elections in Germany Free and fair elections are an essential precondition for any democracy. Germany has been a unified nation since 1990 although the roots of its current political system can be traced back to 1949. In Germany, there is no punishment for a prisoner who tries to escape from jail because Germans believe its a basic human instinct to be free. Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock are the leaders of the party. inspire you to learn more about the language and culture. ), Sportmanagement & Angewandte Sportpsychologie (M.A. Excessive and dangerous speeds can get you pulled over and fined despite what you might have heard! Keep reading to find out some German geography facts. Its only one foot across. You may know Germany as a country that loves beer and sausages, but its also a really interesting and vibrant place thats full of history. Germany has a strong tradition in the visual arts and architecture, with just about all styles represented. Likely fact: Oppenheimer estimated only 20,000 people would die from an atomic bomb. A childs first day at school is exciting and memorable, but its also a scary experience. This is rooted in the old superstition that wishing someone a happy birthday before it arrives could jinx them into not having one at all. Last update on 04/04/2023 Share Test your German knowledge with these facts about Germany. Its also very old with construction having started in 1248. Twenty-five million people visit Germany each year to explore its picturesque scenery, quaint towns, and delicious foods. Check out our country profile, full of essential information about Germany's geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. it has the most bridges of any city in the world and is often considered the birthplace of The Beatles! Because there are so many different dialects in Germany, people may have problems understanding those from different regions - some regional films even have to be shown with subtitles! come back to this page and let us know in the comments below! A native or resident of Germany is called German. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. and its capital and largest city is Berlin. It has been the junior partner in coalition governments with both of the main parties, meaning that it has actually spent more time in power than any other party. Its common for drivers to report anyone they see doing it by taking down their license plate. Each of these states has its own parliament and state leader, known as a Minister-President (the city-states of Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen. It grew out of the now defunct Catholic Centre Party dating back to 1870. Learn more about the German school & education System, Germany has a very high level of employment - in 2016, over half of the people aged 1564 were working (43.3m people) and unemployment was at a record low of 4.2%, Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up around 52% of Germanys economic output, Germany is the largest economy in the EU, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of 3.73 trillion USD - which is also the 4th highest in the world, Germany is focused on sustainability and is a world leader in climate and energy policies at least a third of Germany is powered by renewable energy. It won 11 seats in the 2019 European elections. From Berlin to Munich to Hamburg, there are a ton of German cities to explore. Check out our internationally oriented and English-taught, Learn more about your chances in Germany after graduation, Learn more about the cost of living in Germany as an international student, International Business (B.A.) According to the statistical average, each woman has 1.53 children. you will be interested to learn that Germany is famous for the following attributes: Looking to take your own German skills to the next level so you can experience German culture for yourself? Germany is covered in over 11.4 million hectares worth of forests. Most German governments since World War Two have been coalitions. Germany | Culture, Facts & Travel | - CountryReports 70 Interesting Facts About Germany for Kids (Updated ) The government is elected by the people in elections where everyone has an equal vote. According to German law, an infants gender must be obvious by his or her first name. Hopefully, you feel fully informed now when it comes to everything you need to know about Germany. Germany is located in central Europe and shares borders with a lot of nearby countries, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland and Czech Republic. A lot of our courses are taught in English and we have over 70 nationalities on campus - so were sure youll feel right at home. Germany, known officially as the Federal Republic of Germany, is a federal parliamentary republic in western-central Europe. The remaining 299 MPs are determined by the overall share of votes. Extinction Rebellion has also been active in Germany, holding many demonstrations. dpa Form of government and population Doing so means youre wishing death upon your drinking buddies, and you definitely wouldnt want to do that. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The German language is something to be marveled at! Still curious? In terms of political representation, women and immigrant groups remain underrepresented. For example, if you end up in a German spa, be prepared for lots of nude individuals in the sauna. She is an expert in travel, budgeting, and finding unique experiences. For example, "fremdschmen" translates to the shame felt on someone elses behalf and "Fernweh" translates to the feeling of lusting after an adventure, The German languages shares 60% of its vocabulary with English, German is also the official language in Austria and Liechtenstein and one of the official languages in Switzerland and Luxembourg, Check out our tips to help you learn German fast, The word for football in German is fuball, Football has been played in Germany since 1974, The German Football Association is called Deutscher Fuball-Bund or DFB, There are more football fan clubs in Germany than anywhere else in the world, Germany has only lost a penalty shootout in a major competition once, in 1976, The premier league in Germany is called Bundesliga and includes popular teams such as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, The German football team has won 4 World Cups, making it the joint-second most successful nation in the tournament, Germany also has a record 3 UEFA European Championships (joint with Spain) and won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017, A popular football chant in Germany is Ole, Ole, Ole, Super Deutschland, Ole which is the German version of Ole, Ole, Ole, We Are The Champions, Ole., The womens football team is also very successful and has won two FIFA Women's World Cups and a record 8 UEFA European Women's Championships, One-third of Germany is covered in forests and woodlands, You can find over 2100 castles throughout the country, Our capital city, Berlin is 9 times bigger than Paris and has more bridges than Venice, There have been many capital cities of Germany including Aachen, Regensburg, Frankfurt-am-Main, Nuremberg, Weimar, and Bonn - and the current capital, Berlin, You can find Europes largest train station in Berlin, Germany used to be made up of lots of small kingdoms until they were unified as the German Reich in 1871, German people love to travel and spend more on their holidays than any other nation, The highest peak in Germany is the Zugspitze in Bavaria which is 2,962 meters high, Germany has a moderate climate all year round, in July the average temperature is almost 17 degrees and in January it can be -0.5 degrees, The highest temperature ever recorded in Germany was in 2019 when it got to 42.6 degrees in Lingen, 65% of the highways in Germany have no speed limit and are called the Autobahn, Germany sells around 6 million cars a year, making it one of the largest car producers in the world, The first book ever printed was in German, and the first magazine was launched in Germany in 1663, Were a nation that loves books, we publish around 94,000 titles every year, Germany has more zoos than any other country, we have over 400, Fanta was created in Germany during the Second World War after Coca-Cola syrup was prevented from being imported into the country, Munich is the second most punctual large airport in the world after Tokyo, Some of the worlds most famous inventions were created in Germany - the lightbulb, automated calculators, automobiles, insulin, petrol engines, jet engines, and the Walkman (to name a few!). Map of Germany Facts & Figures Politics of Germany Facts for Kids Online German lessons make it easy to connect with a native Deutsch speaker from anywhere in the world! Although the CSU and the CDU agree on most issues, the CSU is generally the more socially conservative of the two parties. Only German citizens older than age 18 can vote in parliamentary (Bundestagswahl) and state (Landtagswahl) elections. In addition, the Klett Group operates numerous educational facilities ranging from day care centres and schools to distance learning schools, distance learning colleges and universities. The current party leader is Christian Lindner. Fortunately, a well-trained crew of experts is on-hand to ensure they are removed safely without them detonating in populated areas. It took place over five days and grew into a yearly celebration which eventually grew into a yearly two-week celebration. Bundestag The government is headed by the chancellor, who is elected by a majority vote of the Bundestag upon nomination by the president. Much of Germanys post-World War II success has been the result of the renowned industriousness and self-sacrifice of its people, about which novelist Gnter Grass, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1999, remarked, To be a German is to make the impossible possible. He added, more critically. Germany - Manufacturing, Automotive, Exports | Britannica Fun Facts About Germany: Its Inventions and Sports. If that's not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. Culture is big, too so art galleries and nightclubs are everywhere you turn. This determines 299 parliamentary seats, with MPs being the candidates with overall majorities in the 299 German constituencies. In some places in the world, a persons first instinct might be to wave a middle finger at a rude driver who cuts you off at an intersection or neglects to use their turning signal. Germany is a parliamentary and federal democracy. The Federal Constitutional Court has 16 judges, half elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat. Although Berlin was a flashpoint between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the city declined in national and international significance until 198990, when a popular and peaceful uprising toppled the East German government and soon after restored a united Berlin as the capital of a reunified Germany. For in our country everything is geared to growth. Accordingly, 12,9% of the population are aged between 0 and 13; 22% are older than 65. Children in Germany count the days until Christmas with an Advent calendar. In East Germany this boundary was, until the fall of its communist government in 1989, marked by defenses designed to prevent escape. To mark the occasion and help ease first-day jitters, a cone filled with goodies is presented to the child. Learn more about our English-taught undergraduate and graduate study programmes, The average cost for an international student living in Germany is 7,113, In an article by the BBC, Germany was the top university in providing global education and supporting international students, If youre a student who likes to stay active, Germany is the right place as outdoor activities are very popular - especially sports like hiking, cycling, and skiing. History Humans settled in northern Europe about 10,000 years ago, after the last Ice Age. The CDU/CSU is a union between the two conservative Christian parties in Germany. The Third Reich disintegrated in 1945, brought down by the Allied armies of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, France, and other countries. Weve picked over 50 of our favorite fun facts about Germany to fuel your own interest in this beautiful country! More Im talking about the narrowest street in the world and it happens to be in the city of Reutlingen. However, growth is predicted to reach 3.3% in 2021 and 4.4% in 2022, having dropped by 4.9% in 2020. German law statesthat, In Germany, its against the law to address a police officer with the informal . Germany is a very cultured country, with 6,200 museums, 820 theatres, 130 professional orchestras, and 8,800 libraries. "In 1946 there were 12 . We hope that these fun facts about Germany have made you even more excited to visit the country or study the language. Use our guide to the German government and political system. Home Destinations Europe 35 Fun & Interesting Facts About Germany. ), Logistik- und Supply Chain Management (M.Sc. Cultural Attributes: Germans have a reputation for being industrial, thrifty, and methodical. Learn about Germanys democracy and how expats can participate. Between the zoo and the aquarium, over 3 million people visit this attraction every year. This is one of those facts about Germany we experience first hand as we travel the world and meet plenty of Germans. In the social market economy the government attempts to foster fair play between management and labour and to regulate the relationship between the capitalist participants in the market, particularly with regard to competition and monopolies. Popular fairy tales, like Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, and Rapunzel, were created by German brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This is led by the largest party in the election who will form a coalition with other parties. Angela Merkel has been in power since 2005 after the SPD embarked on a series of unpopular labor market reforms and welfare cuts. The SPD is Germanys oldest political party, founded in 1875. The CBS International Business School has been part of the Stuttgart Klett Group since 2016. Here are more facts about culture in Germany. Theres no doubt that Germans love sausage, but did you know that there are more than 1,000 different types of sausages that are made in the country? In Germany, kids dont start school until theyre six years old. The SPD was the most successful party in the late twentieth and early 20th centuries but lost voters when the SPD chancellor made welfare cuts in the early 2000s, and then later when the Left Party formed. During the four decades of partition, the Federal Republic concluded a number of agreements with the Soviet Union and East Germany, which it supported to some extent economically in return for various concessions with regard to humanitarian matters and access to Berlin. The smallest city in Germany is Arnis in Schleswig-Holstein with 284 inhabitants. This article may contain affiliate links. What is Germany's culture? They currently have 197 parliamentary seats. Updated on Aug 9, 2021 7 minute read 2.8K views The world's fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP, and the fifth-largest by purchasing power parity, Germany is esteemed for its affordable and world-class education worldwide. World War I and Germany - Alpha History Although, they will greet people with a , If you dont want to get the evil eye from your waitress and other patrons, then. They believe in a philosophy that roughly translates into dont count your chickens before they hatch. An early congratulation for a birthday reminds the recipient that he or shecould die before the actual date occurs. 15 Interesting Geography Facts About Germany - ViaTravelers Handball, a game in whichtwo teams pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team, was first invented in Germany. 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Vested with considerable independent powers, the chancellor is responsible for initiating government policy. It won 67 seats in the 2017 elections but it fared much better in 2021. Germany's opposition leader faces criticism over his comments on cooperation with the far right, Morocco, Benzina set to make Women's World Cup history in a game against Germany, Marta enters her sixth Women's World Cup seeking scoring record, Brazil's first championship. Germany is peaceful now but during WWII, thousands of unexploded bombs were left in various places around the country. Would you like to learn more about our Bachelor's and Master's programmes at home in peace? Matters of national importance, such as defense and foreign affairs, are reserved to the federal government. Janine Wissler and Susanne Hennig-Wellsow are co-leaders. If you have any questions, schedule a meeting with one of our friendly study advisors, who would be more than happy to help you, or attend one of our virtual info sessions. It stands for democratic socialist policies and Keynesian economics including increased government public spending and more taxes for corporations and high earners. 34.7% of MPs elected in 2021 were female. Were never satisfied. Although the official head of state in Germany is the elected Federal President, this is a largely ceremonial role. This means it supports a free market economy, civil liberties, human rights, and internationalism. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe.It is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union.Germany is situated between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south. 17 Germany Facts for School. Since late 2021, Germany has been governed by a coalition of the SPD, Alliance 90/The Greens and the FDP, headed by . Many Germans living abroad do this. Learn more about our campus in Cologne with a wide range of English-taught undergraduate and graduate programmes, Learn more about living in Cologne as a student. The most important trading partners for imports are China (191,1), the Netherlands (123), the USA (91.7), Poland (77.4) and Italy (72.3); for exports, they are the USA (156.1), France (116.1), the Netherlands (110.6) and China (106.8). Support comes mainly from Catholic areas in the south and west of the country, although in recent years the party has attracted people with different or no religious faiths. Did you know a German invented the calculator and that Berlin has more bridges than Venice? You would like to receive regular information about Germany? It operates a system of civil law based on its constitution, codes and statutes passed by Federal Parliament, and EU laws. In 2022, Germany imported goods and services worth 1,495 billion euros; the value of exports in 2022 was approx.