Facts about Germany
You will probably not be surprised to learn that Germany...
ranks third among the largest economies of the world
...is the world champion in exports, with larger export volumes than the United States or China
...is home to more than 1,200 breweries, 5,000 beer brands and 30 distinct beer types
But did you know that
Approximately one 10th of the books published around the world are in Germany? German is the largest language in the European Union (EU), with 95 million native speakers in Europe and 120 million worldwide.
It has official status in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland, and 15 to 16 million people around the globe learn German as a foreign language.
The world-famous "Made in Germany" trademark was originally introduced by England in 1887. Its initial intention was to discriminate against German products, but it soon became a recognized brand for quality products.
There are currently about 7.3 million foreigners in Germany, representing 8.8 percent of the population. Almost one sixth German citizens are immigrants or belong to immigrant families.
Germany has 2,389 kilometers of coastline with two seas and borders nine European countries. Furthermore, it has 10.7 million hectares of forest, 90 cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants each, 11 mountains over 2,000 meters, and four rivers longer than 500 kilometers.
The number of women in German politics has increased sharply. Whereas women made up only 8 percent of the members of the German Parliament in 1980, the figure rose to almost 32 percent in 2005. The same year, Dr Angela Merkel became the first woman Chancellor of Germany.
Since its reunification, Germany has been the most successful nation at the Winter Olympic Games.
However, football is still by far the most popular sport in Germany. During the World Cup last year, which it hosted, 3.5 million international guests followed the games in the stadiums while more than 11 million cheered their teams in front of large screens in all major German cities.
There are 13 wine-making regions in Germany and over 200 restaurants that have been awarded Michelin stars. From fish in the north to hog roast in the south, definition of a typical German dish varies significantly between the regions. A common trait in German food is the predominance of bread, with bakeries serving more than 300 different types.
(China Daily 05/24/2007 page26)
