Germany lies in the center of Europe. It is the largest member state of the European Union, with over 82 million inhabitants. Cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart and many others are renowned for their cultural diversity, vibrant lifestyle and historic heritage. Museums, concert halls, theatres, opera houses, galleries, cinemas... - the wide range of cultural activities offers something for everybody. And a trip across Germany is a journey through just about every cultural epoch.
Germany ranks 1st in Europe for the highest number of newly registered patents, and it ranks 2nd in the world, after the USA. Germany is the largest economy in the European Union and the 3rd largest in the world.
The most widely spoken mother tongue in Europe is German.
Germany is home to some of the world's leading companies in many areas, such as information technology, health care, biotechnology and the automotive industry, making it the world's leading export nation.