## Demographics
Germany is the **most populous country in the European Union**. Its population is diverse, urbanized, and shaped by internal regional identities as well as decades of immigration.
### Overview - Population: roughly **84 million** in the 2020s. - Capital: **Berlin**. - Major metropolitan areas include Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne/Bonn, Rhine-Ruhr, Frankfurt/Rhine-Main, Stuttgart, and Leipzig/Halle. - Germany is a federal republic of **16 states (Länder)**.
### Demographic notes - Population aging is a major national trend. - Immigration has significantly shaped demographics, especially since the postwar labor migration era and more recent EU and refugee migration. - Large communities have roots in Turkey, Poland, Syria, Italy, Romania, the Balkans, and the former Soviet Union, among many others. - Religious affiliation has declined overall, with growing numbers reporting no religion.
### Demographic snapshot
| Category | Broad picture | |---|---| | Ethnic composition | No single official ethnic census model in the way some countries use; population includes a majority of German citizens alongside large communities with migrant backgrounds | | Religion | Christianity historically dominant (Roman Catholic and Protestant), with significant Muslim communities and a large non-religious population | | Age groups | Aging population; substantial working-age population but rising share of older residents | | Languages | German is the official language; English widely taught; many heritage and immigrant languages are spoken | | Urbanization | Highly urbanized, with strong medium-sized city networks as well as major metros |
### Language distribution - **German** is the official language. - Recognized minority or regional languages include, in certain contexts and regions: - **Sorbian** - **Frisian** - **Danish** - **Low German** - Common immigrant and community languages include Turkish, Arabic, Russian, Polish, Kurdish, Romanian, Italian, and others.
### Religion and belief - Historically divided between Catholic and Protestant regions. - East Germany has particularly high shares of people with no religious affiliation. - Jewish communities, Muslim communities, Orthodox Christians, and many other faith traditions are part of contemporary German life.
### Settlement pattern - Germany has many strong regional urban centers rather than a single overwhelmingly dominant city. - Rural areas in some regions face population decline, while large cities often face housing pressure and growth.