50 Amazing Facts about Germany

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50 Amazing Facts about Germany

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany is a country in Central Europe. It is the second-most populated country in Europe after Russia. Germany is situated between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south. It covers an area of 357,022 square kilometers. The country has a population of around 84 million within its 16 constituent states.

The nation’s capital is Berlin and its main financial center is Frankfurt. Germany borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west. Let’s have a look at the 50 Amazing Facts about Germany.

1. Germany’s currency is euros

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Germany’s currency is the Euro. This has been in use since 2002. Before that, Germany utilize use of the Deutsche Mark as a currency. The euro replaced the German Mark. The Euro was introduced as cash currency in Germany in 1st January 2002.

2. Germany has been called the ‘Land of Poets and Thinkers’

Germans are famous for all their forms of art. Germany’s famous composers include Bach, Brahms, Schumann, Wagner and Beethoven. Famous poets include Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller.

The Grimm brothers and Thomas Mann are responsible for the great tales. Because of these great writers as well as scientists and inventors such as Albert Einstein, Robert Koch or Gottlieb Daimler, the country is often referred to be the “Land der Dichter und Denker”(country of poets and thinkers).

3. It was recognized as a region in 962 AD

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February 2nd 962 AD is the date when Germany was first recognized as a region. Germany became a unified state in January 18th, 1871. October 3rd, 1990 is the date when East and West Germany were united to form the current Federal Republic of Germany.

4. Beer is very common in Germany

In Germany there are 1,500 different types of beer. In the state of Bavaria, beer is actually considered to be a food. Germany is home to the biggest Beer Festival in the world, Oktoberfest in Munich, where the standard glass of beer is a whole litre.

If you want to order 1 beer in Germany, you show your thumb and for 2 beers you show your first finger. Germany is the second largest beer consumer in Europe.

Click to find out the 10 Delicious German dishes you have to try when visiting Germany.

5. German language is the language of use in Germany

German is the most popular third language that is taught in the world. Because there are so many different dialects in Germany, people may have problems understanding those from different regions. In fact, some regional films have to be shown with subtitles. In the German language there are three genders the third being ‘neuter’.

6. Germans love football

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The word for football in German is “fußball”. Football has been played in Germany since 1974. There are more football fan clubs in Germany than anywhere else in the world. The premier league in Germany is called Bundesliga and includes popular teams such as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. The German football team has won 4 World Cups.

7. The country has a moderate climate

Germany has a moderate climate all year round, in July the average temperature is almost 17 degrees and in January it can be -0.5 degrees. The highest temperature ever recorded in Germany was in 2019 when it got to 42.6 degrees in Lingen.

8. Fanta was created in Germany

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Fanta was created in Germany during the Second World War after Coca-Cola syrup was prevented from being imported into the country. Talk of making lemonade out of lemons. Today, Fanta is widely sold across the country.

9. Many inventions were first done in Germany

Some of the world’s most famous inventions were created in Germany. Some of these inventions include the lightbulb, automated calculators, automobiles, insulin, petrol engines, jet engines, and the Walkman.

10. Some highways in Germany have no speed limits

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Up to 65% of the highways in Germany have no speed limit. These highways are called the Autobahn. Drivers who use these highways are free to break their legs at whatever speed that they love. This is definitely good for those who love speed and the adrenaline rush that comes from it.

11. Germans are lovers of books

The first book ever printed was in German, and the first magazine was launched in Germany in 1663. Close to over 94,000 books are published every year in Germany. This means that most people from Germany have a good reading culture. There are around 8,800 libraries that stand in Germany.

12. Germany has the world’s narrowest street

You will find the world’s narrowest street in the German city of Reutlingen. The street’s narrowest point is only 31 cm (one foot) wide. That’s barely passable for an average grown adult.

13. Escaping from a prison is not illegal

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Escaping prison in Germany is not illegal. The reasoning behind this is that the basic human instinct to want to be free. However, a prisoner who damages property, murders or assaults  while escaping will be guilty and liable to punishment.

14. There are laws that govern how to name a baby

There are laws that determine what you can name your baby in Germany. The law bans names that do not denote a gender or use a family name as the first name. The essence is to give a child a name that is as accurate in description as possible.

15. Children joining school for the first time are helped to cope

When children start school in Germany, they receive a Schultüte which is a cone of presents. This is supposed to help ease the stress of entering a new and serious life from the child. The cone has all sorts of candy.

16. Germany has very many castles

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There are more than 25,000 castles in Germany. From castles that look like they come straight out of a fairy tale to medieval fortresses with moats, Germany features some of Europe’s most impressive castles and palaces.

Germany’s oldest castle, the Albrechtsburg, was erected in the 15th century in Meissen in the eastern state of Saxony. It was here that King August the Strong founded Europe’s first porcelain factory in 1710.

17. The famous Black Forest is located in Germany

The Black Forest is a mountainous region in southwest Germany. It is known for its dense, evergreen forests and picturesque villages. The forest is commonly associated with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales.

Black Forest is renowned for its spas and the cuckoo clocks produced in the region since the 1700s. The region’s largest town, Freiburg, is filled with Gothic buildings and surrounded by vineyards.

18. Many people visit the medieval town in Germany

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is well known for its well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around the world. It is part of the popular Romantic Road through southern Germany. The town boasts a huge Christmas shop which is open all-year round.

19. It’s illegal to run out of fuel on some highways

It’s illegal to run out of fuel in the German Autobahn although not forbidden, motorists are only allowed to stop in the legendary highway for emergencies and having an empty tank of gas is not. Drivers can be fined and also have their licenses suspended for up to six months. This is because these highways have no speed limits.

20. College education in Germany is free

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This applies to all even for international students. Tuition fees for bachelor’s degrees in public universities was abolished in 2014 due to politicians thinking that having to pay for higher education as ‘socially unjust’.

21. Germany was once a cluster of small kingdoms, duchies, and principalities

These small kingdoms were unified as the German Reich (Deutsches Reich) in 1871. Later it became the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich (National Socialism), and in 1949 the nation divided into the Soviet-supported East Germany (German Democratic Republic) and the democratic West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany). On October 3 1990, East and West were reunited.

22. The capital city of Germany has been changed several times

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These cities have all at one time or another been capitals of modern-day German territory: Aachen (during the Carolingian Empire), Regensburg, Frankfurt-am-Main, Nuremberg, Berlin, Weimar (unofficially, during unrest in Berlin), Bonn (and East Berlin), and, since 1990, Berlin again.

23. Germany has a high life expectancy rate

Life expectancy in Germany is almost 81 years. This is with 83 for women and 78 for men. Just over 26 percent of the population is currently over 60. Germany is a good place to retire. It ranks fourth (out of 96 countries) in the Global AgeWatch Index 2015 for well-being amongst the elderly.

24. Berlin’s Zoologischer Garten is the largest zoo in the world

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Germany also boasts more than 400 registered zoos. Including zoological gardens, wildlife parks, aquariums, bird parks, animal reserves, or safari parkstotal, Germany has nearly 700 facilities.

25. Germany is one of the world’s largest car producers

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As long as you live on earth you have heard the term German machines more than once. This is because Germany is the hub of vehicles production. Germany sold six million cars in 2015. Volkswagen’s Golf is one of the best-selling cars of all time. In 2016, the top-selling car brands in Germany were Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes, and BMW.

26. Smoking is banned in public spaces

Smoking is banned in public places but drinking is still legal. Smoking has been banned in public buildings, on public transportation and in other places since 2007 but drinking alcohol openly is allowed.

27. Munich‘s Oktoberfest is the world’s biggest folk festival

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Despite its name, Oktoberfest festival actually starts in the last week of September. It officially dates back to 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig threw a party to celebrate his wedding to Princess Terese on October 12. It is the world’s largest Volkfest that features a beer festival and a travelling carnival.

28. A person in a same-sex couple is allowed to adopt in Germany

Any form of discrimination against gay and lesbian people is illegal.  Berlin is the third biggest gay city in Europe, with an estimated 300,000 gay and lesbian residents. However only civil unions are allowed not marriage. Only ‘successive adoption’ is allowed, meaning a partner can adopt a child already adopted by their partner but they cannot file for adoption as a couple.

29. Germany is a leader in climate and energy policies

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Germany made a decision in 2011 to decommission all nuclear power stations (then producing around 18% of electricity consumed) by 2022 and to replace them with renewable energies and new storage for green electricity. At least a third of Germany is now also powered by renewable energy.

30. Germans loves cultural activities

Germany has more cultural activities and places than any other country. It’s a cultured place with 6,200 museums, 820 theatres, 130 professional orchestras, and 8,800 libraries by 2013. There are more museums, exhibition halls, and art galleries than any other country, with more people going to exhibitions than to soccer matches.

Check out the top 10 oldest castles in Germany.

31. Over 800 million currywurst are eaten in Germany each year

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Currywurst is a sausage served with a spicy sauce, and is a street food that has become a cult classic in Germany. About 7 million currywurst are eaten in Berlin alone. There’s even a museum in Berlin dedicated to the popular snack.

32. The most popular German surname is Müller

Müller is the most popular surname in Germany. There are over 900,000 people in Germany who share this last name! A few other popular last names in Germany are: Schmidt, Schneider, Fischer, Weber, and Meyer. The popular surnames in Germany are based on occupations. Schmidt is the German word for Smith, Weber is the German word for Weaver, and Becker is the German word for Baker.

33. Gummy bears are a German invention

Hans Riegel of Bonn, Germany created his own sweets company in 1920. He was fed up with his unrewarding career as a confectionary worker. He started off making candies that were hard and colorless and his wife was his delivery person. He came up with the idea to create gelatin-based fruit snacks when his hard candies stopped selling at street fairs. He didn’t completely invent the recipe himself, but he did perfect it.

34. Germany has the world’s largest cathedral

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The Cologne Cathedral is located in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. It is home to the second-tallest spires. These huge spires make for the largest church in the entire world. When architects started to build the Cologne Cathedral, it was all the way back in 1248. Construction of the cathedral didn’t finish until 1880.

35. Germany has thousands of unexploded bombs

Did you know that Germany still has thousands of unexploded bombs located throughout the country? These are leftovers from WWII. Even over 70 years after World War II, over 2,000 tons of unexploded bombs are uncovered each year.

Before construction companies begin digging for a new project, specialists have to certify that the ground is clear of any munitions. In 2013, over 20,000 people were displaced when a 4,000-pound Blockbuster bomb was discovered in the western German city of Dortmund.

36. The legal drinking age is 16

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Drinking beer is so common that at the age of 16, citizens are allowed to start drinking wine and beer. They have to wait until they’re 18 to drink other spirits, but wine and beer are totally okay. This is actually common among many of the countries in Europe.

37. Germany has over 400 zoos

Germany is home to 414 zoos! This means that the country of Germany has more zoos than the entire United States. The Berlin Zoolischer Garten is the oldest and largest zoo in Germany.

It has the largest collection of animals in the world. The Berlin Zoo has 19,500 animals and 1,500 species spread out along 84 acres of land. It gets a ton of tourists each year.

38. A third of Germany is covered by trees

Germany is covered in over 11.4 million hectares worth of forests. This amounts to roughly 32% worth of German ground covered in trees. Many people make a point of visiting Germany just to experience the beauty of greenery.

39. The first Christmas tree allegedly originated in Germany

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The modern Christmas tree was indeed born in Germany. However,  the symbolic use of evergreen trees started in ancient Egypt and Rome. Germany continued the tradition and added candles to the decoration to celebrate the winter solstice. This is turn gave birth to the Christmas tree as we know it today.

40. Prostitution is legal in Germany

In Germany, a stipend covers the cost of people with disabilities to pay for intercourse. So not only is prostitution legal, but it’s also part of your welfare check. There’s even certified training for sex workers in “qualified sexual accompaniment and assistance.”

41. Germans are addicted to “Dinner for One”

This British slapstick comedy from the ’60s is broadcast every New Year’s Eve across the country, and it’s a big deal. It’s actually the most frequently repeated TV show ever, despite not showing in the UK (where it ironically comes from) or the US.

42. Germany has the most Nobel laureate holders

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Germany is among the top countries with the most Nobel laureate holders globally. It stands at number three with 108 winners, behind the US and the UK. Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, a famous physician, was the first German to receive this coveted prize in 1901.

43. The hamburger is named after the German city of Hamburg

The name hamburger comes from the seaport city of Hamburg. After sailors returned from trading in the Baltic regions, it is thought that they brought back some uncooked shredded beef. The shredded beef was then prepared by an unknown German chef, thus the hamburger was born.

Read more about the Top 10 astonishing facts about Hamburg, Germany.

44. Children can exchange acorn for candy

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In Germany, the sweets maker Haribo runs a program in which local children can swap acorns for candy. The collected acorns are taken to nature preserves to feed animals. 

45. It is bad luck to celebrate a birthday before the actual day

Germans consider it bad luck to celebrate birthdays early. They believe in a philosophy that roughly translates into “don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”  An early congratulation for a birthday reminds the recipient that he or she could die before the actual date occurs.

46. Germany has many famous landmarks

Famous landmarks throughout Germany include historical castles, impressive scenery and cosmopolitan cities. The Neuschwanstein Castle, located in Bavaria, has a fairytale-like architecture which draws over 1.5 million visitors annually to it. In Berlin, both the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag attract similar numbers of tourists, as well as many historical sites like Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall Memorial.

47. Bread accompanies almost every meal

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Bread is one of the main foods part of every cuisine in Germany. Germans are well known for their long tradition of baking bread. The bread’s  taste and way of cooking changes from one part of Germany to the other. There are a lot of different types of bread, loaves and rolls, dark, white, sweet, soft, plain, with different seeds and taste.

48. Germany hosts many music festivals

In Germany, Music Festivals come alongside with spring. Some of the most famous of these festivals are: Lollapalooza, which is the largest inner-city festival that is held in Berlin each 8 and 9 September. Fans of electronic music will love the Melt! Festival, which is organized every year in Ferropolis with famous performers. 

49. The Nuremberg Christmas Market is held every year

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Set at the Nuremberg Main Market Square  and organized each year at the most beautiful time of the year, the Nuremberg Christmas Market, or as Germans call it Christkindlesmarkt, is one of the oldest traditional Christmas markets in Germany. It is believed that it has been organized for almost every year since the early 17th century in Nuremberg.

50. Gay pride festivals are common in Germany

Throughout the month of July, lots of different cities in Germany have pride celebrations. These celebrations involve parades, parties, and much more. The most popular festival is in Cologne, which is known as the gay capital of Germany.

Here are 30 famous gay people who changed the world.