Germany

Population: 82,060,000
Life expectancy: 79.3 years
School life expectancy: 16 years
Religion: Protestant (32%), Roman Catholic (31%), Non-religious
(30%), Islam (5%), Other (2%)

As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation,

Concerns
Aging population
Like many European Countries, Germany is worried about
the low birth rate, contributing to an ever increasing older
population, who live on pensions paid by the present
working population, which is shrinking, because the birth
rate is low.
Neo-nazism
The far-right “National Democratic Party of Germany,”
which won 1.6% of the votes in the 2005 election, is
considered a neo-nazi organisation. The organisation was
attempted banned in 2001-2003 by the federal government,
but the German secret service refused to reveal the full
identities and purposes of their undercover agents, so the
judges were unable to distinguish what was genuinely of
the NDPG, and what was provoked by the secret service.
Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and
defence organizations. With the advent of the Cold War, two German
states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany
(FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The
democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and
security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO,
while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led
Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War
allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has
expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages
up to Western standards. However, there are still plenty of social
issues related to the former divide.
Since its establishment on 23 May 1949, the Federal Republic of
Germany has kept a notably low profile in international relations,
because of both its recent history and its occupation by foreign
powers. Yet, a global opinion poll revealed that Germany is
recognised for the most positive influence in the world in 2009,
leading 16 investigated countries.

Immigration
Turkish immigrants are a major concern in Germany.
Despite compulsory language courses, new immigrants
face prejudices and problems integrating with the native
population and often segment into separate communities.

Head of Government: Chancellor Angela Merkel

Even though originally from West Germany, Angela

Merkel grew up in the countryside of Communist East Chief of State: President Horst
Germany where her father had a pastorship in a Lutheran Koehler (since July 1, 2004)
church. In 1978 she was awarded a PhD for her work in
quantum chemistry. Prior to his election as
President, Köhler (representing
Her involvement in politics started a year before the fall of CDU) had had a distinguished
the Berlin wall in 1990, when she joined the new party career in politics, the civil
“Democratic Awakeing.” After the reuniting of Germany, service and as a banking
her party merged with the Christian Democratic Union. In executive. He has been
addition to being the first female German chancellor and President of the European
the youngest German chancellor since the Second World Bank for Reconstruction and
War, Merkel is also the first born after World War II, and Development head of the
the first with a background in natural sciences. Merkel International Monetary Fund.
topped Forbes magazine's list of "The World's 100 Most
Powerful Women" in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 Although the office of
President is less influential
than that of the Chancellor, and
mostly concerned with
Suggested prayer topics ceremonial matters, Köhler has
become Germany's most
• Pray for the challenges related to the low fertility rates popular politician during his
• Pray for a decline in Nazi-inspired hatred towards other ethnic groups tenure, with record-high
• Pray for the secret service in Germany, that they have pure intentions and execute their approval ratings.
missions wisely.
• Pray for the immigrants to Germany, that they find friends and community also outside In October 2006, he made a
their own ethnic group major decision by not signing
• Pray for Germany’s political leaders, that they may reign wisely for the benefit of their the law of transferring the
country and for the world Deutsche Flugsicherung into
• Pray for the advancement of justice and selfless love in Germany private ownership.