Germany vs Russia
Germany leads on 4 of 6 metrics, Russia on 2. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
Germany vs Russia: the verdict
Russia is the more populous of the two, home to 143.51 million people — about 1.7× the population of Germany (83.49 million).
On the economy, Germany has the larger nominal GDP at $5.05T. But measured per person, Germany comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($60,496), a better proxy for average living standards.
Geographically, Russia is the larger country, spanning 17,098,242 km².
Germany records the higher Human Development Index (0.959), reflecting stronger combined outcomes in health, education and income (source: UNDP).
Overall, Germany leads on more headline metrics in this comparison, though "which country is better" depends entirely on which measures matter to you.
Full breakdown
Germany
GermanyGermanyGovernment & politics
GermanyGermany
Germany is a federal parliamentary republic. The President is a ceremonial head of state, while the Chancellor is the powerful head of government, elected by and answerable to the Bundestag. Germany's system is known for the 'constructive vote of no confidence' — parliament can only remove a Chancellor by simultaneously electing a replacement, which produces unusually stable governments. The powerful Federal Constitutional Court guards the constitution (the Basic Law), and the 16 states (Länder) hold substantial powers.
Russia
On paper Russia is a federal semi-presidential republic, but in practice power is heavily concentrated in the presidency. The President controls the security services, the military and foreign policy, and dominates a Prime Minister who chiefly manages the economy. The State Duma and the courts exercise limited independent check on executive power. Constitutional changes in 2020 further strengthened and extended the presidency.
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, Germany or Russia?
Germany has the higher nominal GDP at $5.05T, compared with $2.56T for Russia (World Bank).
Which country has a larger population, Germany or Russia?
Russia has the larger population with 143,513,328 people, versus 83,491,249 for Germany.
Which is larger in area, Germany or Russia?
Russia is larger, covering 17,098,242 km² compared with 357,114 km² for Germany.