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WAY OF LIFE
WAY OF LIFE
Land of Diversity ∙ Urban Quality of Life ∙ Sustainable Tourism ∙
Sporting Challenges ∙ Leisurely Enjoyment
INSIGHT
LAND OF DIVERSITY
A love of nature and cities alike, healthy
inhabitants, Germany is the most populous
food and gourmet restaurants, a strong
country in the EU and one of the most
sense of tradition and a cosmopolitan mind-
densely populated; around 77 percent of its
set – measuring 357,000 square kilometres,
inhabitants live in densely and highly popu-
Germany is the fourth largest country in the
lated areas. Around 30 percent of the popu-
European Union (EU) after France, Spain
lation resides in big cities with more than
and Sweden. From the North and Baltic Seas
100,000 inhabitants, of which there are 76
to the Alps in the south, Germany is geo-
in Germany; Munich has 4,460 people per
graphically sub-divided into the North Ger-
square kilometre, Berlin 3,780. Experts be-
man Lowlands, the Mittelgebirge ridge, the
lieve the ongoing trend of growth and inno-
Central Uplands in southwest Germany, the
vation is reflected in the renaissance of cit-
South German Alpine foothills and the Ba-
ies, and forecast that by 2030 the number of
varian Alps. From north to south the great-
inhabitants in major cities will have surged
est distance is 876 kilometres, from east to
– with considerable consequences for the
west 640 kilometres.
housing market, inner-city mobility, and
infrastructure. In particular, the 18-to-24-
Germany is one of the countries with the
year-old age bracket is showing a pro-
highest standards of living in the world.
nounced willingness to move to cities. This
The 2014 United Nations’ Human Develop-
urbanisation makes Germany part of a
ment Index (HDI) puts Germany sixth out
global trend. The cities are also great tourist
of a total of 187 countries. With 81.2 million
attractions – Berlin especially is developing