Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in West-central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The territory of Germany covers 357,021 km² and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate.
Germany is a federal parliamentary republic of sixteen states (Bundesländer). The capital and largest city is Berlin. During the 16th century the German regions became the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation. As a modern nation-state, the country was first unified in 1871. After World War II, Germany\'s territory was divided into two separate states along the lines of allied occupation in 1949. It became reunified again in 1990. Germany is a founding member of the European Union, part of the Eurozone, and with over 82 million inhabitants it comprises the largest population among the EU countries.
Germany is a member of the United Nations, NATO, the G8, the G4 nations, and signed the Kyoto protocol. It is the world\'s third largest economy by nominal GDP, the largest exporter of goods, ranked sixth in military expenditure,[5] and is home to the third-highest number of international migrants. Germany has developed a high standard of living and established an advanced system of social security. The country holds a key position in European affairs and is recognized as a scientific and technological leader in several fields. In 2007 Germany held the rotating presidencies of both the European Council and the G8 summits.
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