Germany

Despite the economic upheaval that Germany has experienced since reunification in 1990, the country ranks as the 24th richest nation in the world, with a per capita income of $30,100. The German economy is the largest in Europe, but growth has continued to slow in recent years. No official poverty rates are reported, but unemployment is high (11.7 percent). Income inequality also exists, and Germany ranks 28.3 percent on the Gini index of inequality. The poorest 10 percent of the population claims only 3.6 percent of resources as compared to 25.1 percent for the richest 10 percent. Direction of social funding to residents of the East German area has caused a great deal of dissatisfaction among some West Germans, and the rapidly aging population has added additional strain to the budget. However, the overall standard of living remains high, and the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Human Development Report ranks Germany 21st of 177 countries on overall quality-of-life issues.

Health insurance in Germany can be either compulsory or voluntary, and approximately 90 percent of all Germans are covered by the compulsory state health insurance plan. Social security is compulsory, and it covers workers, students, trainees, the elderly, and dependents of various groups. Benefits include medical coverage, long-term care insurance, pensions, unemployment stipends, and worker compensation insurance. Employees below a set wage standard pay half the required contribution, and the other half is picked up by the employer. Individuals who earn higher wages contribute established percentages toward insurance coverage, generally about four percent if they choose to join the program. If they desire, salaried employees may choose a private insurance provider.

The UNDP Human Development Report ranks Germany 21st of 177 countries on overall quality-of-life issues. Germany has the second largest population in Europe (82,422,299), and people there enjoy a life expectancy of 78.8 years.

The government expends a good deal of money on healthcare in Germany, averaging 19 percent of the total budget. Just over 11 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is used to fund healthcare, and $3,100 (international dollars) is allotted per capita. Most health spending in Germany originates with the government (78.2 percent), and social security spending accounts for 87.4 percent of all government health costs. The private sector is responsible for generating 21.8 percent of health expenditures, and nearly half (47.9 percent) of that amount involves out-of-pock-et expenses. There are 3.37 physicians, 9.72 nurses, 0.10 midwives, 0.78 dentists, and 0.58 pharmacists per 1,000/population in Germany. In March 2006, the German healthcare system experienced a medical crisis when physicians at all university clinics decided to strike over administrative demands that they work additional hours without a pay increase. After three months of negotiations, employers agreed to increase pay from eight to 18 percent and guaranteed bonuses to specialists who took on additional duties.

Germany has the second largest population in Europe (82,422,299), and the people enjoy a life expectancy of 78.8 years. Females outlive males an average of six years. Access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation is universal. The population is highly literate (99 percent), and virtually all children are enrolled in primary and secondary schools. Germany has the 25th lowest fertility rate among the nations of the world. Three-fourths of German women use some form of birth control, and births occur at a rate of 1.39 children per female. All births are attended by trained personnel, and the adjusted maternal mortality rate for German women is eight deaths per 100,000 live births. Women's health is a major concern, and programs have been initiated to target such areas as breast cancer screening, reproductive health, drug addiction, and domestic violence.

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