Germany- The People
About 82 million people live in Germany, with about 80% of the population being ethnic Germans, with the rest belonging to a variety of ethnic groups, with Polish, former Yugoslav and Turkish people being the most common. Germany is a densely populated country, especially in the western parts of the nation.
Most Germans live in cities, just as Canadians do, with the largest cities being Berlin (3.5 million), Hamburg (1.8 million) and Munich (1.2 million). Most people who do not live in large cities live in towns of varying size, with only very few Germans living on farms. Most Germans have service jobs similar to Canadians, though there are somewhat more people engaged in industry.
The German economy is highly reliant on exports and trade, with Germany the world's second-largest exporting nation. Many German products are well-known in Canada, including Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche cars, medical products by Bayer and confections like Werther's Original and Kinder Surprise. Even the tanks that the Canadian Armed Forces currently use, the Leopard II, are manufactured in Germany.
Germany is a rich country and Germans enjoy a standard of living that is comparable to Canada's. While all parts of Germany enjoy a very high standard of living by global standards, the eastern parts of the country (except the capital) tend to be poorer than the western parts. While many German towns and cities look old and quaint, Germany is every bit as technological, highly-developed nation as Canada is.
Germany is about the same age as a unified country as Canada is, forming in 1871. After playing a central, tragic role in Two World Wars, however, Germany was divided in two in 1945, with the eastern part of the country being communist and the western part being a capitalist democracy. Reunification of the two halves of Germany didn't happen until 1990. Today, Germany is the central member of the European Union, being its largest and wealthiest member.
Most Germans live in cities, just as Canadians do, with the largest cities being Berlin (3.5 million), Hamburg (1.8 million) and Munich (1.2 million). Most people who do not live in large cities live in towns of varying size, with only very few Germans living on farms. Most Germans have service jobs similar to Canadians, though there are somewhat more people engaged in industry.
The German economy is highly reliant on exports and trade, with Germany the world's second-largest exporting nation. Many German products are well-known in Canada, including Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche cars, medical products by Bayer and confections like Werther's Original and Kinder Surprise. Even the tanks that the Canadian Armed Forces currently use, the Leopard II, are manufactured in Germany.
Germany is a rich country and Germans enjoy a standard of living that is comparable to Canada's. While all parts of Germany enjoy a very high standard of living by global standards, the eastern parts of the country (except the capital) tend to be poorer than the western parts. While many German towns and cities look old and quaint, Germany is every bit as technological, highly-developed nation as Canada is.
Germany is about the same age as a unified country as Canada is, forming in 1871. After playing a central, tragic role in Two World Wars, however, Germany was divided in two in 1945, with the eastern part of the country being communist and the western part being a capitalist democracy. Reunification of the two halves of Germany didn't happen until 1990. Today, Germany is the central member of the European Union, being its largest and wealthiest member.
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Ideas for Further Inquiry
1.) How might Canada look different if it were as densely populated as Germany? Or, perhaps, how might Germany look if it was as sparsely populated as Canada is?
2.) What Canadian goods are well-known throughout the world? Canada is also a large exporter. 3.) How has German history shaped its development and the human impact on its environment?
2.) What Canadian goods are well-known throughout the world? Canada is also a large exporter. 3.) How has German history shaped its development and the human impact on its environment?