Economy
Facts and Figures
Germany lies in the centre of the European Union, bordering more countries than any other country in the world, namely 9 and has access to the North and Baltic Seas.
Its territory encompasses an area of 357,000km2 with almost 2,400 km of coastline and is the home to 82 Mio inhabitants. This makes Germany the most populous nation in the European Union. Since 1949 the Federal Republic of Germany has been a democratic parliamentary federation.
Germany is the largest economy in the European Union and the fourth largest in the world and the second largest exporting nation globally. The most important trading partners are France (export of EUR 82bn in 2009), Netherlands, USA and UK (export of EUR 53bn).
Germany is an attractive location for foreign investors; the world’s 500 largest businesses have operations in the country alongside with more than 45,000 other businesses.
Economic relations between Germany and New Zealand are excellent. Among New Zealand’s trading partners Germany ranks first among European countries and fifth worldwide. Wool, meat and dairy products are New Zealand’s major exports to Germany. The main items imported from Germany are motor vehicles, machinery of all kinds, medical and pharmaceutical products and fertilizers.
