Basic Facts about Germany

Culture and Society

With its wide range of landscapes and city sizes, its appreciation for history and culture as well as cutting edge technology and research and its growing internationality, today's Germany is a diverse country unified by a single language. Even the language itself, however, in its many regional forms, attests to the multifacetedness  of German society. Whether it is the peacefulness of seascapes and rural landscapes, the buzz of metropolitan areas or the challenge of mountain climbing, Germany has much to offer. Germany has an easily accessible and simultaneously very affordable museum and cultural infrastructure. It also prides itself on the many high quality universities and R&D institutions located in the country. Because of its economic attractiveness and bustling cultural life, Germany has become home to a growing number of international residents. In 2009, 19.6 percent of the population had some form of immigration background, up from 18.6 percent in 2005.

For details on everyday life in Germany, please refer to our section ''Your Stay in Germany'' or our ''Business Etiquette Guide.'' You may also like to visit the ''Deutsche Welle'' online, a public broadcaster which reports on a variety of topics relating to understanding Germany, its cultural background and current events. Further Information about cultural activities in and exchange programs with Germany is available from the Deutsche Kultur International website, a project funded by the Federal Foreign Office.