Area
357,027 sq km (137,849 sq miles).

Population
82.5 million (UN, 2005).

Population Density
231 per sq km.

Capital
Berlin.
Population: 3.4 million (estimate 2005).

Government
Federal Republic.
Head of State: President Horst Köhler since 2004.
Head of Government: Chancellor Angela Merkel since 2005.
Recent history: From 1995 onwards, a new leadership under would-be Chancellor Gerhard Schröder emerged to challenge a Helmut Kohl Government (leader of the right-wing Christian Democrats (CDU)), now entering a stale twilight period. The Social Democratic (SPD) party duly won the 1998 general election and, after 17 years as Chancellor and 25 years as party leader, Kohl stood down. With a cleverly worked campaign which drew in part on widespread popular concern about a future Middle East war, Schröder out-maneuverd the Christian Democrats and held on to power in the September 2002 general election. Schröder then sough to continue Helmut Kohl’s aim of a more activist German foreign policy. Along with French president Jacques Chirac, Schröder opposed much Anglo-American policy in the Middle East. (Although not a permanent member, Germany currently sits on the UN Security Council). However, Schröder's reign came to an end amidst stultifying confusion in the national elections held on 18 September 2005. Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats won Germany's election by just three seats, falling far short of a majority. As both Mrs Merkel and Mr Schroeder claimed they had a mandate to be Chancellor, Germany faced weeks of uncertainty, which only resulted in a deal between the CDU and the SPD on 10 October. Angela Merkel was declared Germany's first woman Chancellor and sworn in in late November; also the first Chancellor to have grown up in the former Communist, eastern part of the country. Merkel's foreign stance is more pro-US than her predecessor and she has pledged to overhaul the German economy. Therefore it remains to be seen whether Schröder's stance on foreign policy are challenged. However, Merkel has been sworn in as part of a CDU-SPD 'grand coalition', formed under which the SPD will take eight ministerial posts, against six for the CDU and their CSU allies. This may mute the power of Merkel somewhat. For now, the same major political issues remain in Germany: Germany hosts the largest number of immigrants of any EU nation, and the debate has coincided with the growth of violent neo-Nazism.
The present constitution dates from May 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany being formally established four months later. The country is a parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislature (Bundesrat and Bundestag, with 68 and 663 members respectively). Executive authority lies with the Federal Government, led by the Federal Chancellor. The Federal President is the constitutional head of state. Each of the states has its own legislature with power to pass laws on all matters not expressly reserved for the competence of the Federal Government. The former German Democratic Republic has been absorbed into this system, adding five new states to the total.

Language
German. English is widely spoken and French is also spoken, particularly in the Saarland. In the north of Schleswig-Holstein, Danish is spoken by the Danish minority and taught in schools. In Brandenburg and Saxony, Sorbic is spoken by the ethnic minority called the Sorbs and is also taught in about 50 schools. Regional dialects often differ markedly from standard German.

Religion
Approximately 34 per cent Protestant, 34 per cent Roman Catholic, with Jewish, Muslim and other non-Christian minorities.

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style round two-pin plugs are in use. Lamp fittings are screw type.

Telephone
Full IDD is available. Country code: 49. National and international calls can be made from coin- or card-operated telephone booths. Calls can be made from post offices. Cheap rate applies Mon-Fri 1800-0800 and all day Saturday and Sunday. Discount phonecards from private companies can be bought from shops and kiosks.

Mobile telephone
Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good. It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving.

Internet
Internet is readily available; there are many Internet cafes all over the country. Large Internet access centers exist in most main cities. Hotels also provide facilities.

Post
Stamps are available from hotels, slot machines and post offices. A five-figure postal code is used on all internal addresses. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1200. Smaller branches may close for lunch.

MEDIA
Germany's competitive TV market is the largest in Europe. Each of the country's 16 regions regulates its own private and public broadcasting, and operates public TV and radio services. Around 90 per cent of German households have cable or satellite TV. Germany is home to some of the world's largest media conglomerates, such as Bertelsmann. While the press and broadcasters are free and independent, the display of swastikas and statements endorsing Nazism are illegal.
Press: The most influential dailies include the Die Welt, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The most widely read of the weekly publications are Der Spiegel and Die Zeit. Some new or revamped newspapers, such as Berliner Kurier, have emerged out of eastern Germany and are competing well with western German papers. Most major English newspapers and international magazines are also available in Germany.
TV: Premiere is a pay-TV operator. ARD is the organization of regional public broadcasters and operates Das Erste, the main public TV channel. Other commercial broadcasters include N24 (rolling news), RTL (entertainment channels) and ZDF (operates the second public national TV channel). Deutsche Welle TV is the international TV service, and operates in English and Spanish, as well as German.
Radio: Deutsche Welle TV broadcasts radio in many languages. Deutschlandradio operates national public radio stations, Deutschlandfunk and Deutschlandradio Kultur (broadcasting news/current affairs and cultural programs). ARD is an umbrella organization of many public radio services, including regional stations.

Public Holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2006-June 2007 period.


Jan 1 2006:   New Year’s Day.
Jan 6:   * Epiphany.
Apr 14:    Good Friday.
Apr 17:    Easter Monday.
May 1:    Labor Day.
May 25:    Ascension.
Jun 5:    Whit Monday.
Jun 15:   * Corpus Christi.
Aug:   
15*:   Assumption Day.
Oct 31:   Reformation Day.
Nov 1:   All Saints' Day.
Nov 20:   day of Prayer and Repentence.
Dec 25-26:    Christmas.

Jan 1 2007:    New Year’s Day.
Jan 6:   * Epiphany.
Apr 6:    Good Friday.
Apr 9:    Easter Monday.
May 1:    Labor Day.
May 17:   Ascension.
May 28:    Whit Monday.
Jun 7:   * Corpus Christi.

Note
*Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Assumption, Day of Reformation, All Saints’ Day and Day of Prayer and Repentance are not observed in all areas. Consult the German National Tourist Office for details (see Top Things To Do).

Contact Information:

Location
Western/Central Europe.

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the UK
23 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PZ, UK
Tel: (020) 7824 1300.
Website: www.german-embassy.org.uk
Opening hours: 0900-1200.
Consular section: 1-6 Chesham Place, Belgrave Mews West, London SW1X 8PZ, UK
Tel: (08705) 100 420 (recorded passport information; calls cost 60p per minute) or (09065) 508 922 (recorded visa information; calls cost £1 per minute) or 540 740 (24-hour automated visa appointment booking service; calls cost £1 per minute) or (020) 7823 2854 (consular emergencies only).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200; Mon-Thur 1400-1600, Fri 1330-1530 (telephone enquiries only).

Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in the UK
16 Eglinton Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 5DG, UK
Tel: (0131) 337 2323.
E-mail: german.consulate@btconnect.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.

German National Tourist Office in the UK
PO Box 2695, London W1A 3TN, UK
Tel: (020) 7317 0908.
Website: www.germany-tourism.co.uk

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the USA
4645 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Tel: (202) 298 4000.
Website: www.germany-info.org or www.germany.info

German National Tourist Office in the USA
20th Floor, 122 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10168-0072, USA
Tel: (212) 661 7200 or (800) 651 7010 (toll free).
Website: www.cometogermany.com