Germany: Facts & Stats

Demographics

Population:

82 million inhabitants (December 2008) Density: 230 inhabitants per sq. km Germany has 82 urban areas with over 100,000 inhabitants.

The five largest are:

1. Berlin 3,395,189
2. Hamburg 1,743,627
3. München 1,259,677
4. Köln 983,347
5. Frankfurt am Main 651,899

Social issues:

The German social market economy was the economic policy ever since the Federal Republic of West Germany was founded in 1948. This policy brought about the "economic miracle" that rebuilt Germany from scratch after World War II to one of the largest economies in the World. However, Germany still continues to struggle with a number of social issues.

A growing number of Germans are poor and depend on welfare. In 2007 one in 6 children depended on welfare. That's up from only one in 75 in 1965. Poverty rates seem to vary in different states as in Bavaria only 3.9% suffer from poverty while in Berlin 15.2% of the inhabitants are poor. Families that are headed by a single parent and working class families with multiple children are most likely to be poor.

Germany has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. In 2007 its national fertility rate was 1.45 children per woman, up slightly from the 2002 rate (1.31), but still well below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman. (By contrast, the United States had a fertility rate of 2.09 in 2006). At the same time, Germans are living longer, with a life expectancy of 75.6 for men and 81.3 for women . This demographic shift is already straining the country's social welfare structures and will produce further economic and social problems in the future.

Education:

Responsibility for German education system lies primarily with the Bundesländer (states) while the federal government only has a minor role. Optional kindergarten education is provided for all children between three and six years old, after which school attendance is compulsory for mostly 11 to 12 years. In the first nine years all students attend school from age six to eighteen or nineteen. The system varies throughout Germany because each Bundesland decides on their own educational policies. Most children, however, first attend Grundschule from age six to nine.

In contrast, secondary education includes four types of schools based on a pupil's ability as determined by teacher recommendations: the Gymnasium includes the most gifted children and prepares students for university studies; the Realschule has a broader range of emphasis for intermediary students; the Hauptschule prepares pupils for vocational education, and the Gesamtschule, or comprehensive school, combines the three approaches. There are also Förderschulen. (schools for the mentally challenged and physically challenged). One in 21 students attends a Förderschule.

In order to enter higher education, students are required to take the Abitur examination; however, students possessing a diploma from a vocational school may also apply to enter. A special system of apprenticeship called Duale Ausbildung allows pupils in vocational training to learn in a company as well as in a state-run school. Although Germany has had a history of a strong educational system, recent PISA student assessments demonstrated a weakness in certain subjects.

Religion:

Christianity is the largest religious denomination in Germany, with 52 million adherents (64%). 26.5 million are Protestants (32.3%) and 25.5 million are Catholics (31.0%).

The second largest religion is Islam with 4.3 million adherents (5%) followed by Buddhism and Judaism, both with around 200,000 adherents (c. 0.25%). Hinduism has some 90,000 adherents (0.1%).

All other religious communities in Germany have fewer than 50,000 (or less than 0.05%) adherents. About 24.4 million Germans (29.6%) have no registered religious denomination.

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