Germany

Germany is a federal parliamentary republic in Western Europe. Its official name is the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland). The nation is a member of the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the G7 and the G20. For structured comparison, start with the fixed identifiers below, then move to verifiable current data from named sources. The stable framework follows, together with a method for checking the numbers that change.

Classification facts

These identifiers come from the United Nations Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use (M49) and the World Bank country API. They are administrative groupings, not political or territorial claims.

Field	Value
UN M49 code	276
ISO alpha-2	DE
ISO alpha-3	DEU
UN region	Europe
UN subregion	Western Europe
UN member state	Yes
World Bank capital field	Berlin

The M49 standard is maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division and is used for statistical convenience. It does not determine sovereignty, borders or political status. For the authoritative list, see the UN M49 overview.

Country basics

Germany borders Denmark, Poland, Czechia, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Baltic Sea and the North Sea define its northern coastline. The nation is a founding member of the European Union and the eurozone.

Official identifiers

• UN M49 code: 276
• ISO alpha-2: DE
• ISO alpha-3: DEU
• UN region: Europe
• UN subregion: Western Europe
• UN member state: Yes
• World Bank capital field: Berlin

These codes come from the UN M49 overview, published by the UN Statistics Division, and the World Bank country API. They are classification labels, not political statements.

Population

Population figures change continuously. The most reliable snapshot is the United Nations World Population Prospects, but the UN itself distinguishes between estimates (projections between censuses) and census counts (actual enumerations). For Germany, the UN’s 2024 revision estimated about 83.3 million residents in 2023. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) publishes more frequent updates, but its figures use a different base date and definition of usual residence. Do not mix the two datasets in the same sentence without stating the source and reference year.

The World Bank also publishes population estimates for Germany, sourced from the UN Population Division. These are annual estimates, not census counts. If you need the latest figure, check the World Bank country API and note the date field, which is the reference year for that value. Census counts are rarer and older; Germany’s most recent full census was in 2022, with results published by Destatis. The census count and the UN estimate can differ by a small margin because they use different definitions of residence and different reference dates.

How to check the current number

• Decide whether you need an annual estimate or a decennial census count.
• For annual estimates, use the UN World Population Prospects (2024 revision) or the World Bank country API, and record the reference year.
• For a census figure, cite the 2022 census from Destatis and note the enumeration date.
• Never compare a UN estimate and a Destatis census figure without disclosing the source and definitional difference.

Capital

Berlin is the capital of Germany. This is a political fact, not a statistical one. The World Bank country API lists Berlin in the capital field, but for any official purpose confirm with the German government’s own sources. The capital city’s resident count is a separate figure from the national total; do not use one as a substitute for the other.

How to verify current figures for Germany

Population, currency, government structure and economic indicators change on different schedules. Census data is collected roughly every ten years; GDP figures are revised quarterly; exchange rates change daily. No single snapshot stays current for long. To keep a country profile accurate, always cite the dataset, the definition and the reference year, and check the primary source before publishing.

Population

The United Nations Population Division publishes annual estimates and projections. For Germany, the UN World Population Prospects (2024 revision) is the standard reference. The UN M49 overview provides the grouping code and regional assignment used across UN agencies.

Language

German is the official language of the Federal Republic of Germany. Regional and minority languages are also recognised under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, but the official status and scope of each should be verified in the current legal text.

Currency

The euro (EUR). The European Central Bank is the monetary authority for euro-area members; national central banks issue no separate currency.

Government type

The World Bank and CIA World Factbook describe Germany as a federal parliamentary republic. For the current head of government and cabinet composition, consult the official portal of the Federal Government (bundesregierung.de) or the Bundestag (bundestag.de), both cited with their publication date.

Economy

World Bank Open Data provides GDP, GDP per capita (both nominal and PPP), GNI per capita, income group assignment and the World Bank country overview. IMF WEO provides projections; OECD provides structural comparisons. Always check the reference year and the exact series you are citing.

Travel requirements

Visa and entry rules change frequently and are nationality-specific. Your own foreign ministry or the IATA Travel Centre is authoritative for your situation; do not rely on a country profile page.

Distinguishing official data from political or territorial claims

The M49 standard assigns Germany the code 276 and the ISO alpha-2 code DE, with the alpha-3 code DEU. The UN region is Europe, and the subregion is Western Europe. Germany is a UN member state. The World Bank capital field lists Berlin. These facts are stable and are maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division in the M49 overview. They are statistical groupings, not political or territorial claims; the same nation may appear under different groupings in other UN or regional frameworks.

Three questions this guide answers

1. What are the stable identifiers for Germany?
2. How do I verify current data without freezing volatile figures?
3. What are the limits of the common national statistics?

Adjacent guides

• Country comparison methodology
• Source literacy for country data

Germany is a Western European federal republic and a founding member of the European Union, but the figures you see for it depend on which source defines the data.