Germany Facts

Interesting Facts for Kids

Here are some interesting Germany Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Population: 83 million people live in Germany (2023). The majority of the people live in cities and towns.
Capital: Berlin with 3.5 million inhabitants is not only Germany's capital city but also the biggest city.
Name: Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Republic of Germany)
Government: Democracy, Republic
Language: German

Literacy: More than 99% can read and write.
Religion: mainly Christians (Protestants 34%, Roman Catholics 34%), Muslims about 4%
Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents, before 2001 German Mark/Deutsche Mark (DM)
Flag colors: black, red and gold

Where is Germany? - Germany Map

Germany is located in the center of Europe and shares borders with 9 countries: Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France , Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands (clockwise from the top/north).

Germany is the second most populous country in Central Europe after Russia and many immigrants live and study in Germany.

The Baltic Sea (in German: Ostsee), the North Sea (in German: Nordsee) and the lowlands form the natural borders in the North of Germany and the Southern Germany borders are formed by the Alps mountains and Lake Constance (in German: Bodensee).

The highest mountain in Germany is the 'Zugspitze' (which means 'windy peak') with 2,963 metres/ 9,721 ft. Germany's highest mountain is one of Germany's top attractions and many tourists visit the mountain top every year. You can take a cablecar up to the top of the mountain and have spectacular views of the Alps and the scenic countryside from there.

Zugspitze - highest Mountain in Germany

See the amazing panoramic 360 ° views from the Zugspitz mountain top, to view click here. (It will take about 10 seconds to load this amazing panorama page. Please be patient the view is really worth the wait :-)

Germany Facts:
Attractions for Kids

Berlin Wall

Berlin: learn about German history and re-unification, visit the Reichstag building and parliament, and see remnants of the wall that separated the western and eastern parts of the city
Cologne and the Rhine Valley: Cologne Cathedral, Lorelei and annual Carnival festivities
Black Forest: great for nature lovers and hikers with many picturesque villages, turquoise lakes and great forest walks.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: The medieval town is a bit touristy but very scenic and boasts a huge Christmas shop which is open all-year round.
Northern Germany: Explore Germany's biggest island Rügen and the historic Hanse towns Stralsund und Rostock or further off Lübeck and Hamburg
Munich: for its science and arts museums, experiencing the famous Oktoberfest and the typical Bavarian Gemütlichkeit (which means feeling home and being comfortable)
Bavaria and the German Alps: great for skiing, hiking and relaxed holidays. You just have to see these awe-inspiring castles such as Neuschwanstein or Herrenchiemsee
Castles: There are more than 25,000 castles in Germany, make sure to visit at least one of our top ten castles. Below you see Hohenzollern Castle.

Castle Hohenzollern

Germany Facts about German People

Famous Goethe Painting by Tischbein

Germany is well known for great poets, such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (you see him in the pictured above in the famous painting by Tischbein) and Friedrich Schiller, and many other writers, such as the Grimm brothers (remember the tale of Hansel and Gretel) or Thomas Mann. Because of these splendid 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).

Germans love going to the museums, concerts and theatres. These places which are well maintained and supported, so you will find many interesting places you can visit.

Germans also love sports! Many Germans are active in sports clubs such as soccer, tennis or gymnastics clubs. In schools, the most popular sports activities are soccer, volleyball, basketball, ballet and dancing. Sports idols Sebastian Vettel (Formula 1), Bastian Schweinsteiger (soccer) or Anna Schaffelhuber and Felix Neureuther (skiing) are supported by most Germans proudly. Many of you will already have have heard the names of Boris Becker and Steffi Graf which are among the world's most known tennis stars.

The country's premier soccer league, called Bundesliga, is followed closely by many and Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund are firm favourites not only of Germans.

The most popular sports in Germany are soccer, tennis, swimming and skiing, although the latter is possible only in the southern and eastern parts of the country. Especially in the Bavarian Alps, the Mittelgebirge and the Erzgebirge, the mountains are high enough and warrant for enough snow to enjoy a multitude of wintersports facilities.

Germany Facts | German Food

Most of the German main dishes contain either meats, mainly pork, beef and veal or fish. Germans often eat potatoes, but pasta dishes are also very popular, especially with the younger generations. The Germans love their bread, which is mainly a mix of wheat and rye flour and is much darker and has a hard crust. Bread rolls are also eaten.

Sauerkraut, Sausages and Brezeln (Pretzels, see in the picture above) are surely the most famous German food exports and in Germany you will find fresh bread, bread rolls and pretzels as well as delicious cakes and pastry in the numerous bakery shops. Even little villages often have more than two or three bakers and you will have the choice of many different types of bread and rolls.

Germans love their meat, but you will find more and more vegetarian dishes on the menus in restaurants now too, although there are many more variations of dishes with meat available. Schweinebraten oder Schweinsbraten (roast pork knuckles) is very popular in Southern Germany while Rinderbraten (beef roast) is more popular in Northern Germany.

Typical German food: roast pork with red cabbage and knoedl (dumplings)

German Food: Roast pork with dumplings and red cabbage

Germany Facts: More typical German food:

Sauerkraut: probably the most famous vegetable associated with German food. It is eaten in Germany with potatoes and meat, but traditionally not eaten with fish as in many other parts in the world.
Rotkraut: meaning red cabbage, see in image above
Knödel, either as Semmelknödel: bread dumplings, eaten either with mushrooms in a creamy sauce or with meat dishes or Kartoffelknödel: potato dumplings
Spargel: white asparagus is harvested in late April and until 24 June. It has a very distinct flavour and is very healthy! Usually accompanied by ham and a white creamy sauce, this vegetable is really delicious.
Black Forest Cake: delicious dark chocolate cake filled with cherries and cream.
Weisswurst: very pale veal sausage, cooked and eaten in Bavaria - usually in midmorning, before noon.
Stollen and Lebkuchen: Delicious cakes, decorated biscuits and various gingerbread cookies are eaten at Christmas time in Germany.
Wine and Beer: Did you know that Germans do produce lovely wine as well as beer? The valleys along the Rhine and Mosel rivers are well known for their wines. Bavaria is known for its beer and the many micro breweries.

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Please bookmark this page if you are interested in Germany Facts for Kids as my Germany Facts will be updated regularly. And enjoy learning more great Germany Facts soon:-)

Picture credits in main text: 1.Adriana Martins at sxc.hu, 2.Christa Riechert at sxc.hu, 3.at sxc.hu, others own or shutterstock.com

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