Germany's Economy: A brief summary

     Germany's economy has gone through a lot of changes in the past 60 years.  Today Germany's economy is fifth in the world and the largest in Europe.  Germany is a leading exporter in all types of goods such as "machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and household equipment and benefits from a highly skilled labor force." In 2012 the unemployment rate for Germany was 6.5%, with higher tax revenues and less spending Germany reached a budget surplus of 0.1% which is 39th in the world.  The country's budget is $1.511 trillion revenues and  $1.507 trillion in expenditures. 

    Germany has the sixth highest GDP (purchasing power parity) in the world at $3.123 trillion (2012 est.).  Germany's GDP per capita is twenty ninth in the world at $39,100 (2012 est.), 15.5% of the country is below the poverty line.  With a labor force of 44.01 million (2012 est.) most of the work force is in services at 73.8%, while industry have 24.6%, and agriculture was only 1.6%.  The country exports $1.492 trillion (2012 est.) within that is agriculture and industry.  Some of the most famous exports of Germany include "motor vehicles, machinery, chemicals, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, metals, transport equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, rubber and plastic products."  The euro was worth more than the US dollar at 0.78 (2012 est.) per US dollar.