‍German culture according to Hofstede: an overview

When you think of German culture, you often immediately think of clichés: beer, lederhosen, soccer - and of course the world-famous Oktoberfest. But culture encompasses far more than just clichés. 

The Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede has developed a model that compares countries based on cultural dimensions such as power distance, individualism and uncertainty avoidance. These dimensions help you to understand how values influence behavior in different countries - particularly useful for expats and Germans in international teams to promote mutual understanding. 

In this article, we take a closer look at German culture and compare it with the cultures of other countries such as Croatia, India, Italy, Poland and Turkey.

Hofstede explains the cultural dimensions

Geert Hofstede identified six dimensions that help to analyze cultural differences between countries. These dimensions offer insights into the values and behaviors of different societies and show how culture shapes cooperation and coexistence.

Knowing how cultural dimensions work (and how Germany works in comparison to other countries) is particularly helpful in an intercultural working environment, as it helps to clarify questions such as: Why doesn't the new colleague give honest feedback? Why does this person never share best practices? Why is the foreign colleague always late for meetings due to lunch schedules? Many misunderstandings can easily be cleared up if you understand how the behavior of a person from another culture works. So let's dive deep into Hofstede's cultural dimensions one by one!

• Power distance: This dimension measures how strongly hierarchies and power differences are accepted in a culture. A low level means flatter structures and more co-determination, while a higher level emphasizes hierarchies more strongly.
• Individualism vs. collectivism: This is about whether the focus is on individual freedom and personal responsibility (individualism) or on group membership and community thinking (collectivism). Individualistic cultures promote independence, while collectivist cultures tend to focus on mutual support.
• Motivation for achievement and success (formerly masculinity vs. femininity): Masculine cultures value success, competition and achievement. Feminine cultures, on the other hand, value caring, cooperation and quality of life more highly. These values influence working environments and communication styles.
• Uncertainty avoidance: This dimension describes how strongly people want to avoid uncertainty and the unknown. Cultures with high uncertainty avoidance prefer clear rules and structure, while lower values allow more flexibility.
• Long-term orientation vs. short-term orientation: Long-term oriented cultures plan for the future and value perseverance and thriftiness. Short-term oriented cultures place more value on traditions and quick results.
• Indulgence vs. Domination: This dimension shows whether a culture values pleasure and enjoyment in life (indulgence) or prefers restraint and control (domination). Indulgent cultures encourage leisure activities and expression, while controlling cultures emphasize self-discipline.

These dimensions will help you to better understand the values of German culture compared to other countries. For more details and in-depth information, you can visit the official Hofstede website or read the book The Culture Map by Erin Meyer, which offers more practical examples of cultural differences. 

German culture in the Hofstede model

The Hofstede model comprises six Dimensions:

• Power distance: Germany has a relatively low power distance, which means that equality and co-determination are more important than hierarchies
• Individualism: Germans place great value on individualism, which is reflected in the emphasis on personal responsibility and the focus on the nuclear family (parents and children) instead of relationships with the extended family (e.g. uncles, cousins...).
• Masculinity vs. femininity: Germany is seen as a more masculine society in which performance and competition are valued and success is celebrated and can be shown through status symbols such as cars.
• Uncertainty avoidance: A high level of uncertainty avoidance in Germany means that rules and planning are very important.
• Long-term orientation: German culture is characterized by a strong focus on the future.
• Indulgence vs. restraint: Germany has a moderate attitude, with a balance between indulgence and restraint.

Culture in Germany explained in comparison to other countries

The Hofstede model helps you to better understand the cultural differences between Germany and other countries. We look at Germany in comparison with Turkey, Croatia, India, Italy and Poland using Hofstede's six cultural dimensions: power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation and compliance.

Germany vs. Turkey

• Power distance: In Germany, power distance is relatively low, which promotes flat hierarchies and co-determination. Turkey, on the other hand, has a higher power distance, which means that authority and hierarchy are more strongly respected in professional and private life.
• Individualism: Germans place great value on individuality and personal freedom, while Turkey is more collectivist. There, cohesion within the community, especially within the family, is a central value.
• Masculinity: Both countries tend to have a masculine culture, but this is more pronounced in Turkey, where traditional gender roles and competition play a more important role.
• Uncertainty avoidance: Both Germany and Turkey show a high level of uncertainty avoidance, which means that rules, regulations and a strong focus on planning are preferred.
• Long-term orientation: Germany is strongly future-oriented and relies on long-term planning. Turkey tends to be more short-term oriented, which is reflected in its more flexible attitude towards plans.
• Indulgence vs. restraint: Germany shows a balanced attitude, while in Turkey indulgence is more prevalent, which is expressed in a stronger focus on enjoyment and sociability.

If you come from Turkey and live in Germany, you will have to get used to flat hierarchies and direct communication, working independently and supporting long-term planning.

Germany vs. Croatia

• Power distance: Germany is relatively egalitarian in this respect, while Croatia has a slightly higher power distance, which leads to a greater acceptance of hierarchies.
• Individualism: Both countries are characterized by individualism, although Germany is more focused on this. In Croatia, however, family and community also play an important role.
• Masculinity: Germany and Croatia both have a masculine culture in which achievement and success are emphasized. However, Germany tends to view success less personally, while in Croatia pride in individual achievements is strongly pronounced.
• Uncertainty avoidance: Croatia has a similarly high level of uncertainty avoidance as Germany, which means that rules and structure are also important for reducing uncertainty.
• Long-term orientation: In Germany, there is a strong focus on the future, whereas Croatia is more short-term oriented and reacts flexibly to changes.
• Compliance vs. restraint: Germany is balanced, while Croatia shows a somewhat stronger tendency towards restraint and therefore places less value on spontaneous enjoyment.

If you come from Croatia and live in Germany, you will have to learn to appreciate direct communication and personal responsibility as well as long-term and structured planning, as this is of great value here.

Germany vs. India

• Power distance: Germany has a low power distance, which promotes flat hierarchies and co-determination. In India, on the other hand, the power distance is high, which means that hierarchies are strongly respected and decisions are often made from the top down.
• Individualism vs. collectivism: Germany is strongly individualistic and values personal responsibility and independence. India, on the other hand, is more collectivist, with a strong focus on family and community, which is particularly evident in working life, where loyalty to the team and respect for authority are important.
• Masculinity vs. femininity: Both countries tend towards masculinity, but Germany tends to emphasize achievement and success in a structured, competitive framework. In India, status and hierarchies are additionally emphasized, and traditional gender roles are often more pronounced.
• Uncertainty avoidance: Germany has a high uncertainty avoidance, which is reflected in a preference for planning and clear rules. India, on the other hand, is more tolerant of uncertainty and shows greater flexibility and adaptability, often also in dealing with rules and structures.
• Long-term orientation: Germany is strongly future-oriented and places value on long-term planning and strategic thinking. India also shares this long-term orientation, but with a cultural focus on adapting to change and patience in dealing with long-term goals.
• Compliance vs. domination: Germany shows a balanced attitude in this dimension, while India is a more compliant culture. In India, pleasure and enjoyment are often valued in everyday life, which is reflected in a pronounced social and spiritual life.

If you come from India and live in Germany, you should pay less attention to hierarchies, communicate directly, take personal responsibility and support long-term, strategic planning.

Germany vs. Italy

• Power distance: In Italy, the power distance is somewhat higher than in Germany, which means that hierarchies are respected and decisions are made from the top down.
• Individualism: Both countries are strongly individualistic. In Germany, however, this individualism is characterized more by distance and rationality, while in Italy family and social relationships are more important.
• Masculinity: Italy is considered to be even more masculine than Germany. Competition and status are very important there, especially in social and professional contexts.
• Uncertainty avoidance: Germany and Italy both have a high level of uncertainty avoidance. In Italy, this often means a highly bureaucratic structure and a tendency towards traditional rules, while Germany is more focused on efficiency and precision.
• Long-term orientation: Germany shows a stronger long-term orientation. Italy, on the other hand, is more short-term oriented and tends to prioritize the here and now.
• Indulgence vs. restraint: Both countries have a balanced attitude, but Italy shows more indulgence, which is reflected in the culture of celebration and a relaxed attitude towards indulgence.

If you come from Italy and live in Germany, you will have to get used to appreciating flat hierarchies and direct communication, showing initiative and working in a long-term and structured manner.

Germany vs. Poland

• Power distance: Poland has a slightly higher power distance than Germany. Traditional hierarchies are more widely accepted there, while Germany relies more on flat structures and equal co-determination.
• Individualism: Both countries are relatively individualistic. However, Poland places more emphasis on community values and close relationships, especially within the family.
• Masculinity: Both countries are masculine, but in Poland the emphasis on competition and performance is somewhat stronger, especially in professional contexts.
• Uncertainty avoidance: Poland has a particularly high level of uncertainty avoidance, similar to Germany. This means that rules, structure and stability are highly valued.
• Long-term orientation: Germany is more long-term oriented, while Poland has a more medium to short-term orientation and places more emphasis on flexible adjustments.
• Indulgence vs. restraint: Germany is more balanced, while Poland shows a stronger tendency towards restraint, which is reflected in a more reserved attitude towards pleasure and leisure activities.

If you come from Poland and live in Germany, you will have to get used to flat hierarchies and direct communication, working independently and supporting long-term planning, as structure is important here.

These dimensions show that German culture is unique in many ways, which are also reflected in working life. 

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If you want to learn more about the specific challenges of finding a job in Germany, check out our article on how the job market works in Germany.

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