Germany's economy, eurozone's largest, at a glance

Germany's economy has weathered Europe's debt crisis far better than the 16 other countries that use the euro currency. Because the German economy is by far the strongest in the euro alliance, the government can borrow at extremely low rates.

Here are some facts about the German economy:

— Its gross domestic product — the total production of goods and services in Germany — was €2.57 trillion ($3.42 trillion) in 2011. That was the highest in the eurozone.

— The interest rate on Germany's 10-year government bond is only about 1.56 percent, below the eurozone inflation rate of 2.4 percent. That's because Germany's bonds are regarded as an ultra-safe investment. It's an advantage that allows Germans, and their government, to borrow at lower rates than others can.

— Germany's top export partners are the 27 countries in the European Union, which accounted for 59 percent of Germany's exports. Next was Asia, accounting for 16 percent of German exports, and the United States, with 10 percent. China plays a critical role because German exports to China are growing rapidly.