50 Interesting Facts About Germany

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  1. Germany, a country in Central Europe, is the most populous country among countries located entirely in Europe.
  2. The population in Germany is the oldest in Europe and the 2nd oldest in the world. The average age of Germans is 46.5 years. (Source)
  3. Germany has the world’s best recycling rate. The country recycles more than 56% of its municipal waste. (Source)
  4. Baby names in Germany need approval from the civil registration office. In case of rejection, parents can submit a new name with an additional fee. A personal name cannot be a product, brand, or place name. It must not be associated with evil or religious insensitivity. The gender of the child must be apparent with his/her name.
  5. Germany has the largest usable railway lines in Europe. The length of the railway network in Germany is more than 39,000 km. (Source)
  6. Berlin Zoological Garden is the largest zoo in the world. There are more than 48,000 animals of 1,380 species present here.
  7. Germany has the highest number of zoos in Europe and one of the highest in the world. There are 302 zoos in Germany out of the total 768 in Europe.
  8. There is no speed limit on highways in Germany. It is the only country in the European Union not enforcing a speed limit on highway traffic. (Source)
  9. Germany’s Volkswagen Group is the world’s biggest automobile company in terms of the production of vehicles. (Source)
    Volkswagen logo
    Volkswagen produces highest number of vehicles in the world

  10. Germany manufactured around 3.31 million cars in 2021. It makes Germany the largest producer of vehicles in Europe and the 6th largest in the world. (Source)
  11. Germany has the 2nd longest motorway length in Europe (after Spain) and the 5th longest in the world. (Source)
  12. The world’s narrowest street is in Germany. The measurement of this street is 50 cm at its widest and 31 cm at its narrowest point. (Source)
  13. Hamburg has the highest number of bridges in the world. There are more than 2,300 bridges in this German city. (Source)
  14. Despite being a country with a cold climate, Germany is the largest solar power producer. It generates more than 38 GW of solar energy out of a total of 177 GW in the world. Germany fulfills around 50% of its energy requirement through solar power. (Source)
  15. The social health insurance system started in Germany. The country initiated this system in 1883. (Source)
  16. Germany has a rich history in Europe. It was the central part of the Holy Roman Empire and became the center of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century.
  17. Germany became a nation-state in 1871 with the emergence of the German Empire. It included all German-speaking areas, excluding Switzerland and Austria.
  18. The current Federal Republic of Germany was established in 1990 with the unification of East Germany and West Germany after the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
  19. Germany is the world’s 3rd largest country by international import and export of products. It is the largest exporter and importer in Europe. (Source) (Source)
  20. With more than 10 million immigrants, Germany is in the 4th spot on the list of countries with the most immigrants. The country hosts the highest number of immigrants in Europe. (Source)
  21. Germany also hosts the highest number of illegal immigrants in Europe. More than 1 million unauthorized immigrants are living in Germany. (Source)
  22. Germany is famous for originating several fairy tales. Many of these tales are known and liked around the globe. The most prominent German fairy tales are “Cinderella, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel & Gretel, and Sleeping Beauty.” (Source)
  23. German is the 2nd most spoken language in Europe. There are more than 95 million German native speakers in this continent. It is the official language in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. (Source)
  24. The Christmas tree celebration started in Germany during the 16th Century. Martin Luther was the first person who added lighted candles to these trees. (Source)
  25. The world’s oldest complete hunting weapons were discovered in a coal mine in Germany. These three wooden spears were around 400,000 years old. (Source)
  26. Germany has the largest video game market in Europe and the 5th largest in the world. Their estimated game revenue in 2022 was $6.5 billion. (Source)
    Xbox 360 Pro with controller
    Germany has the Europe's largest video game market

  27. Germany is also the place of the earliest musical instruments. The discovery place of the oldest-known musical instruments in the world is southern Germany. These instruments are more than 42,000 years old. (Source)
  28. In 1939, the sculpture of a lion-head man was found in a cave in Germany. It is the oldest statue in the world with an estimated age of 40,000 years. (Source)
  29. Germany was the first country to use daylight saving time (DST). This energy-saving method started in Germany in 1916. (Source)
  30. Germany has played a vital role in various scientific inventions. The diesel engine, the electron microscope, the contact lens, the printing press, and tape-recorder are a few of many significant German inventions. (Source)
  31. Germany has the second-lowest unemployment rate in Europe (just behind the Czech Republic). Only 3.2% of Germans are unemployed. (Source)
  32. Germany has the highest number of castles in the world. Three are around 25,000 castles in this European country. (Source)
  33. Ulm Munster in Germany is a church with the world’s tallest spire. This Protestant Cathedral, built in 1890, is 528 feet high. (Source)
  34. The Leipzig Hauptbahnhof in the German city of Leipzig is the biggest railway station in Europe by floor area. It has an area of 83,460 sq. m. Another railway station, the München Hauptbahnhof, in Munich has 32 platforms. It is Europe’s largest railway station by the number of platforms. (Source)
  35. A sizeable portion of the Rhine River, the second-longest in central and western Europe, runs through Germany. 
  36. Germany is the birthplace of many famous philosophers and scientists who changed the modern world with their unique thinking. The most prominent German philosophers and scientists include Karl Marx, Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Engels, Albert Einstein, and Heinrich Hertz.
  37. The world’s oldest cemetery is present in Germany. Gross Fredenwalde is around 8,500 years old. (Source)
  38. The Danube, the second-longest river in Europe and the longest in central and Western Europe, originates from the Black Forest area in southern Germany.
  39. Germany has performed exceptionally well in both summer and winter Olympics. It has won the 3rd highest number of medals in both these Olympic Games. (Source) (Source)
  40. Michael Schumacher, a German motorist, has won 7 Formula One Drivers’ Championships, the highest in the world.
  41. Coca-Cola invented Fanta during WW2 in Germany. The ingredients in the initial drink were leftover apple fibers, whey (a byproduct of cheese), and mash from cider presses. (Source)
  42. The world’s first magazine was "Edifying Monthly Discussions." A poet and theologian started its publication in Germany in 1663. (Source)
  43. Gutenberg Bible is known as the first book ever printed. This book was initially printed in 1455 in Germany. (Source)
    First page of Gutenberg bible
    World's first book was printed in Germany

  44. The world’s two biggest beer festivals are held in Germany. Oktoberfest is celebrated every year in Munich. The 2nd largest festival is ConstatterVolksfest, held in the German city of Stuttgart.
  45. Germany is one of few countries where prison escape is not punishable. However, the prisoner will have to avoid committing any other crime during his/her escape.
  46. Education in public universities in Germany is completely free for Germans and students from other countries. (Source)
  47. Handball was initially played in Germany and Scandinavia. Germany hosted the first Field Handball World Championships in 1938.
  48. In contrast to many other countries, most of the taxis in Germany are Mercedes. More than 90% of taxis in Germany are Mercedes-Benz E-class diesel.
  49. In Germany, wishing someone a happy birthday in advance is considered bad luck. After presenting a gift, it is also necessary to mention the receiver that the gift should not be opened before the birthday. (Source)
  50. The largest McDonald’s restaurant in the world is in Frankfurt, Germany. The Frankfurt Airport McDonald’s covers an area of 43,055 square feet and has a seating capacity for 650 guests. (Source)

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