Germany

Germany

Introduction

Background

As Europe’s largest economy and second most populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent’s economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro. In January 2011, Germany assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.

Geography

Location

Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

Geographic coordinates

51 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 357,022 sq km
country comparison to the world: 63 land:348,672 sq km
water:8,350 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries

total: 3,790 km
border countries:Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 815 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km

Coastline

2,389 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate

temperate and marine

cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers

occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind

Terrain

lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m
highest point:Zugspitze 2,963 m

Natural resources

coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land

Land use

arable land: 33.13%
permanent crops:0.6%
other:66.27% (2005)

Irrigated land

4,850 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

188 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 38.01cu km/yr (12%/68%/20%)
per capita:460cu m/yr (2001)

Natural hazards

flooding

Environment – current issues

emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution

acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests

pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany

hazardous waste disposal

government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years

government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU’s Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea

People and Society

Nationality

noun: German(s)
adjective:German

Ethnic groups

German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)

Languages

German

Religions

Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%

Population

81,471,834 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.3% (male 5,569,390/female 5,282,245)
15-64 years:66.1% (male 27,227,487/female 26,617,915)
65 years and over:20.6% (male 7,217,163/female 9,557,634) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 44.9 years
male:43.7 years
female:46 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.208% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211

Birth rate

8.3 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218

Death rate

10.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Net migration rate

0.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

Urbanization

urban population: 74% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

BERLIN (capital) 3.438 million

Hamburg 1.786 million

Munich 1.349 million

Cologne 1.001 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.72 male(s)/female
total population:0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 160

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.54 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 208 male:3.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.07 years
country comparison to the world: 27 male:77.82 years
female:82.44 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.41 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Health expenditures

8.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 55

Physicians density

3.531 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 28

Hospital bed density

8.17 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 7

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

67,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

12.9% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 45

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 119

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 82

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years
male:16 years
female:16 years (2006)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 11%
country comparison to the world: 98 male:12%
female:9.8% (2009)

People – note

second most populous country in Europe after Russia

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form:Germany
local long form:Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form:Deutschland
former:German Empire, German Republic, German Reich

Government type

federal republic

Capital

name: Berlin
geographic coordinates:52 31 N, 13 24 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March

ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions

16 states (Laender, singular – Land)

Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen (Hesse), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia)

note – Bayern, Sachsen, and Thueringen refer to themselves as free states (Freistaaten, singular – Freistaat)

Independence

18 January 1871 (German Empire unification)

divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II

Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones

German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone

West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990

all four powers formally relinquished rights on 15 March 1991

notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire)

2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor)

National holiday

Unity Day, 3 October (1990)

Constitution

23 May 1949, known as Basic Law

became constitution of the united Germany 3 October 1990

Legal system

civil law system

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Christian WULFF (since 30 June 2010)
head of government:Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005)
cabinet:Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) by a Federal Assembly, including all members of the Federal Diet and an equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments

election last held on 30 June 2010 (next to be held by June 2015)

chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Diet for a four-year term

Bundestag vote for Chancellor last held after 27 September 2009 (next to follow the legislative election to be held no later than 2013)
election results:Christian WULFF elected president

received 625 votes of the Federal Assembly against 494 for GAUCK and 121 abstentions

Angela MERKEL reelected chancellor

vote by Federal Diet 323 to 285 with four abstentions

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes

state governments sit in the Council

each has three to six votes in proportion to population and is required to vote as a block) and the Federal Diet or Bundestag (622 seats

members elected by popular vote for a four-year term under a system of personalized proportional representation

a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain proportional representation and caucus recognition)
elections:Bundestag – last held on 27 September 2009 (next to be held no later than autumn 2013)

note – there are no elections for the Bundesrat

composition is determined by the composition of the state-level governments

the composition of the Bundesrat has the potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election
election results:Bundestag – percent of vote by party – CDU/CSU 33.8%, SPD 23%, FDP 14.6%, Left 11.9%, Greens 10.7%, other 6%

seats by party – CDU/CSU 239, SPD 146, FDP 93, Left 76, Greens 68

Judicial branch

Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat)

Federal Court of Justice

Federal Administrative Court

Political parties and leaders

Alliance ’90/Greens [Claudia ROTH and Cem OZDEMIR]

Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]

Christian Social Union or CSU [Horst SEEHOFER]

Free Democratic Party or FDP [Philipp Roesler]

Left Party or Die Linke [Klaus ERNST and Gesine LOETZSCH]

Social Democratic Party or SPD [Sigmar GABRIEL]

Political pressure groups and leaders

business associations and employers’ organizations

trade unions

religious, immigrant, expellee, and veterans groups

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Niels Peter Georg AMMON
chancery:4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:[1] (202) 298-4000
FAX:[1] (202) 298-4249
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Philip D. MURPHY
embassy:Pariser Platz 2, 14191 Berlin

note – new embassy opened 4 July 2008
mailing address:PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265, Clayallee 170, 14195 Berlin
telephone:[49] (030) 2385174
FAX:[49] (030) 8305-1215
consulate(s) general:Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold

these colors have played an important role in German history and can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor – a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field

National symbol(s)

black eagle

National anthem

name: “Lied der Deutschen” (Song of the Germans)
lyrics/music:August Heinrich HOFFMANN VON FALLERSLEBE/Franz Joseph HAYDN
note:adopted 1922, restored 1990

the anthem, also known as “Deutschlandlied” (Song of Germany), was abolished in 1945 because of the Nazi’s use of the first verse, specifically the phrase, “Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles” (Germany, Germany above all) to promote nationalism

since restoration in 1990, only the third verse is sung

Economy

Economy – overview

The German economy – the fifth largest economy in the world in PPP terms and Europe’s largest – is a leading exporter of machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and household equipment and benefits from a highly skilled labor force. Like its western European neighbors, Germany faces significant demographic challenges to sustained long-term growth. Low fertility rates and declining net immigration are increasing pressure on the country’s social welfare system and necessitate structural reforms. The modernization and integration of the eastern German economy – where unemployment can exceed 20% in some municipalities – continues to be a costly long-term process, with annual transfers from west to east amounting in 2008 alone to roughly $12 billion. Reforms launched by the government of Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (1998-2005), deemed necessary to address chronically high unemployment and low average growth, contributed to strong growth in 2006 and 2007 and falling unemployment. These advances, as well as a government subsidized, reduced working hour scheme, help explain the relatively modest increase in unemployment during the 2008-09 recession – the deepest since World War II – and its decrease to 7.4% in 2010. GDP contracted 4.7% in 2009 but grew by 3.6% in 2010. In its annual projection for 2011, the Federal Government expects the upswing to continue, with GDP forecast to grow this year at a real rate of 2.3%. The recovery was attributable primarily to rebounding manufacturing orders and exports – increasingly outside the Euro Zone. Domestic demand, however, is becoming more significant driver of Germany’s economic expansion. Stimulus and stabilization efforts initiated in 2008 and 2009 and tax cuts introduced in Chancellor Angela MERKEL’s second term increased Germany’s budget deficit to 3.3% in 2010. The Bundesbank expects the deficit to drop to about 2.5% in 2011, below the EU’s 3% limit. A constitutional amendment approved in 2009 likewise limits the federal government to structural deficits of no more than 0.35% of GDP per annum as of 2016.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.94 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6 $2.841 trillion (2009 est.)
$2.98 trillion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.316 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110 -4.7% (2009 est.)
0.7% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$35,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32 $34,500 (2009 est.)
$36,200 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 0.9%
industry:27.8%
services:71.3% (2010 est.)

Labor force

43.49 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 2.4%
industry:29.7%
services:67.8% (2005)

Unemployment rate

7.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73 7.7% (2009 est.)
note:this is the International Labor Organization’s estimated rate for international comparisons

Germany’s Federal Employment Agency estimated a seasonally adjusted rate of 10.8%

Population below poverty line

15.5% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%:24% (2000)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

27 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 130 30 (1994)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Budget

revenues: $1.427 trillion
expenditures:$1.535 trillion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

43% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Public debt

83.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16 73.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29 0.3% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 115 1.75% (31 December 2009)
note:this is the European Central Bank’s rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.77% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163 4.96% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.747 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5 $1.729 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area

the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money

$4.173 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5 $4.323 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$5.2 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5 $5.019 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.43 trillion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 9 $1.298 trillion (31 December 2009)
$1.108 trillion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages

cattle, pigs, poultry

Industries

among the world’s largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles

Industrial production growth rate

10.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Electricity – production

556.4 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

Electricity – consumption

544.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

Electricity – exports

54.13 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

12.28 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

147,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

Oil – consumption

2.495 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Oil – exports

470,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Oil – imports

2.671 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Oil – proved reserves

276 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas – production

12.65 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Natural gas – consumption

99.5 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Natural gas – exports

16.19 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Natural gas – imports

99.63 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2

Natural gas – proved reserves

175.6 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Current account balance

$188.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 $188.6 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$1.303 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3 $1.161 trillion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures, foodstuffs, textiles

Exports – partners

France 10.1%, US 6.7%, UK 6.6%, Netherlands 6.6%, Italy 6.3%, Austria 5.7%, Belgium 5.2%, China 4.7%, Switzerland 4.5% (2009)

Imports

$1.099 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4 $972.5 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals

Imports – partners

Netherlands 13%, France 8.2%, Belgium 7.2%, China 6.8%, Italy 5.6%, UK 4.7%, Austria 4.4%, US 4.2%, Switzerland 4.1% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$216.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12 $180.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$5.624 trillion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 5 $4.713 trillion (30 June 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$956.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5 $999.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$1.427 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4 $1.358 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

549 (2010)
country comparison to the world:13

Airports – with paved runways

total: 330
over 3,047 m:13
2,438 to 3,047 m:53
1,524 to 2,437 m:59
914 to 1,523 m:70
under 914 m:135 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 219
1,524 to 2,437 m:2
914 to 1,523 m:33
under 914 m:184 (2010)

Heliports

25 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 24,688 km

oil 3,687 km

refined products 4,875 km (2010)

Railways

total: 41,981 km
country comparison to the world: 6 standard gauge:41,722 km 1.435-m gauge (20,053 km electrified)
narrow gauge:220 km 1.000-m gauge (75 km electrified)

39 km 0.750-m gauge (24 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways

total: 644,480 km
country comparison to the world: 11 paved:644,480 km (includes 12,800 km of expressways)
note:includes local roads (2010)

Waterways

7,467 km (Rhine River carries most goods

Main-Danube Canal links North Sea and Black Sea) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 19

Merchant marine

total: 421
country comparison to the world: 25 by type:barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 7, cargo 44, carrier 1, chemical tanker 15, container 293, liquefied gas 7, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned:10 (China 2, Finland 5, Greece 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries:3,287 (Antigua and Barbuda 1050, Australia 2, Bahamas 39, Belize 1, Bermuda 15, Brazil 6, Bulgaria 25, Burma 1, Cayman Islands 6, China 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 189, Denmark 10, Dominica 2, Estonia 1, France 1, Georgia 4, Gibraltar 125, Hong Kong 10, Isle of Man 56, Italy 1, Jamaica 10, Liberia 1049, Luxembourg 9, Malta 127, Marshall Islands 247, Morocco 2, Netherlands 92, former Netherlands Antilles 32, NZ 2, Panama 27, Portugal 13, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 30, Slovakia 4, Spain 5, Sri Lanka 5, Sweden 3, Turkey 1, UK 77, US 3, Venezuela 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Bremen, Bremerhaven, Duisburg, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Lubeck, Neuss-Dusseldorf, Rostock, Wilhemshaven
oil terminals:Brunsbuttel Canal terminals

Military

Military branches

Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy (Deutsche Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Joint Support Services (Streitkraeftbasis), Central Medical Service (Zentraler Sanitaetsdienst) (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service

conscription ended 1 July 2011

1-2 year service obligation

women have been eligible for voluntary service in all military branches and positions since 2001 (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 18,529,299
females age 16-49:17,888,543 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 15,027,886
females age 16-49:14,510,527 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 405,438
female:384,930 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none

Illicit drugs

source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors

transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs

major financial center