Germany is a federal parliamentary republic with a head of government - the chancellor - and a head of state - the president - whose primary responsibilities are representative. The country comprises 16 states which each have their own constitution and are largely autonomous regarding their internal organisation.

Germany is both a country and a nation, but the terms describe different aspects of its identity. Officially the Federal Republic of Germany, it is a country because it is a sovereign, self-governing political entity with defined borders, a permanent population, and a government that exercises authority over its territory. In the context of political geography, it is also a nation-state, meaning the majority of its citizens share a common culture, history, and language (German). The term "nation" refers to the collective group of people (the German people), whereas "country" refers to the physical territory and legal institution. Germany’s identity as a modern nation-state was formally solidified with the unification in 1871 and was later redefined following the reunification of West and East Germany in 1990. Today, it is the most populous member of the European Union and is considered a "great power" due to its massive economy and cultural influence across Western and Central Europe.