A country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Germany comprises 16 states (Lander, Bundeslander), which are further subdivided into 439 districts (Kreise/Landkreise) and cities (kreisfreie Stadte).