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How it is governed

Germany on the 12 axes

MLPGFree-Market CosmopolitanOpen markets, open minds, open borders for ideas.

Germany is typed MLPG, the Free-Market Cosmopolitan. Structure is as Local as it can be at -1.00, with a federation and a strong elected regional governments index of 0.996 (2025). Next are Democratic Authority (-0.85), Progressive Morality (-0.85) and Liberty on Security (-0.80). Welfare leans Shared at -0.75, with government spending at 50% of GDP and public social spending at 28% of GDP (IMF 2025, 2024). Religion sits at the centre at +0.05, since the state is secular but funds and partners with religions.

Austria is the closest match at 88%, tied with Belgium. Germany and Austria share a federal structure and a high-spending welfare state. Austria leans National identity on Culture at +0.20 where Germany leans Multicultural at -0.50, and Germany has decided to phase out nuclear power. See how politicians and historical figures sit against Germany's profile here, or take the test to see your closeness.

Laws and institutionsData 2026-10
ECONOMYSTATESOCIETYWORLDOwnershipMarketsWelfareAuthoritySecurityStructureMoralityReligionTechnologyCultureTradeForeign
Axis by axis

Where Germany sits

  1. 01Ownership+55
    PublicPrivate
  2. 02Markets+35
    PlannedFree
  3. 03Welfare-75
    SharedSelf-reliant
  4. 04Authority-85
    DemocraticStrong leader
  5. 05Security-80
    LibertyOrder
  6. 06Structure-100
    LocalCentral
  7. 07Morality-85
    ProgressiveTraditional
  8. 08Religion+5
    SecularReligious
  9. 09Technology+30
    EmbraceCaution
  10. 10Culture-50
    MulticulturalNational identity
  11. 11Trade-65
    GlobalProtected
  12. 12Foreign policy-70
    CooperationStrength

Scores come from laws, budgets and institutional indexes, not from polls or the party in power. How country profiles are built

People

Who is closest to how Germany is governed?

Each percentage compares a person's documented positions with the country's current profile, on the axes both have on record. A high score means their views match the status quo. A low one means they would change more.

Current politicians

  1. Felix BanaszakFelix BanaszakGermany · Alliance 90/The Greens77%
  2. Heidi ReichinnekHeidi ReichinnekGermany · Die Linke70%
  3. Lars KlingbeilLars KlingbeilGermany · Social Democratic Party of Germany69%
  4. Friedrich MerzFriedrich MerzGermany · Christian Democratic Union61%
  5. Markus SöderMarkus SöderGermany · Christian Social Union in Bavaria61%
  6. Alice WeidelAlice WeidelGermany · Alternative for Germany46%

Historical figures

  1. Petra KellyPetra Kelly1947-1992 · Co-founder of the German Greens78%
  2. Hannah ArendtHannah Arendt1906-1975 · Political theorist77%
  3. Willy BrandtWilly Brandt1913-1992 · Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (1969-1974)74%
  4. Angela MerkelAngela MerkelBorn 1954 · Chancellor of Germany (2005-2021)73%
  5. Eduard BernsteinEduard Bernstein1850-1932 · Social democratic theorist73%
  6. Gerhard SchröderGerhard SchröderBorn 1944 · Chancellor of Germany (1998-2005)72%
  7. Karl KautskyKarl Kautsky1854-1938 · Leading theorist of the German Social Democratic Party69%
  8. Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant1724-1804 · Philosopher68%
  9. Helmut KohlHelmut Kohl1930-2017 · Chancellor of Germany (1982-1998)67%
  10. Helmut SchmidtHelmut Schmidt1918-2015 · Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (1974-1982)66%
  11. Ludwig ErhardLudwig Erhard1897-1977 · Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (1963-1966)66%
  12. Gustav StresemannGustav Stresemann1878-1929 · Chancellor of Germany (1923)64%

Match-ups

Governed most like Germany

How close are you to Germany?

Your 12 Axes result ranks the countries governed most like your answers, next to ideologies, figures and politicians.

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Germany: questions

What is Germany's type on the 12 axes?

Read from its laws and institutions, Germany comes out as MLPG (Free-Market Cosmopolitan). The type takes one letter per family of three axes: Economy, State, Society and World. It describes how the country is governed, not what its people think.

Which politician is closest to how Germany is governed?

Of the current politicians profiled here, Felix Banaszak sits closest to Germany's policy profile, at 77% on the axes both have on record. Closeness compares documented positions with current laws; it is not a measure of popularity or success.

Which countries are governed most like Germany?

On the 12 axes, Austria is closest at 88%, followed by Belgium at 88%. The comparison uses the same country profiles as the country match on your 12 Axes result.