Key facts
*  Currency: the €uro
*  Unemployment: 4.4% (Aug 2020)
*  Inflation: -0.2% (Sept 2020)
*  Fifth largest economy in the world, largest in Europe.
*  World's top exporter

*  GDP per capita $50,800 (2017 est)
*  GDP from industry 30.1%, services 69%, agriculture 0.9% (2008 data)
    Production – engineering, especially automobiles, machinery, metals, chemical goods
*  Great international trade fairs eg Hannover, Frankfurt, Berlin

General

Germany has largely recovered from the 2009 world financial crisis. After contracting by 5% in 2009 its economy grew by over 4% in 2010, 3% in 2011 and 0.7% in 2012. Budget deficit reduced to 0.8% in 2011 and a small budget surplus was recoreded in 2012. The economy benefits from a highly skilled workforce and firm export markets for its wide range of consumer and engineering products. 

Best known companies
Daimler Benz, Volkswagen, Porsche, BMW, Siemens, Nivea, Adidas, BASF, e.on

Export partners

US 8.8%, France 8.2%, China 6.8%, Netherlands 6.7% (2017