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Angela Merkel (Politician) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth17 July 1954

BirthplaceHamburg, West Germany

ProfessionGerman Politician

NationalityGerman

Marital statusMarried

SpouseJoachim Sauer (1998–present); Ulrich Merkel (1977–1982)

FamilyFather: Horst Kasner; Mother: Herlind Kasner; Brother: Marcus Kasner; Sister: Irene Kasner

Net worth$11.5 million

Angela Merkel (Politician) Biography

Angela Dorothea Merkel is a German politician who rose from a scientific background to become leader of the Christian Democratic Union and served as chaper

Early life and background

Angela Dorothea Merkel was born on 17 July 1954 in Hamburg, West Germany, and grew up in the town of Templin in the Uckermark district of Brandenburg. She is the daughter of Horst and Herlind Kasner and has siblings Marcus and Irene Kasner. Her paternal grandfather, Ludwig Kasner, was of Polish origin from the Poznań region; the family surname was formerly Kaźmierczak before becoming Kasner.

Merkel trained as a scientist, studying physics at Leipzig University and going on to earn a doctorate in the subject. In school she became proficient in Russian and was recognized for her skills in mathematics. Religion also featured in her upbringing: the family practiced Lutheranism.

Career

Merkel entered politics in the period around German reunification. In 1989 she joined Democratic Awakening, a new political movement that emerged from the democracy movement after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The following year she became a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and was elected to the Bundestag in the 1990 federal election representing the constituency of Stralsund – Nordvorpommern – Rügen.

Her ascent within the CDU continued through the 1990s. After the Kohl government lost power in 1998, Merkel was appointed Secretary-General of the CDU. She served as Minister for the Environment beginning in 1994 and later became head of the CDU in 2000.

In 2005 Merkel secured the CDU nomination for chancellor and won the national election that year. She assumed the office of Chancellor of Germany on 22 November 2005, becoming the country’s head of government. Her main political rival during the 2005 campaign was Gerhard Schröder.

Public profile

Merkel has been known by the nickname "Mutti" in public discourse. Her measured, pragmatic approach to politics and her scientific background contributed to her reputation on the world stage. International outlets recognized her influence during the 2010s: in 2015 Forbes ranked her as the second most powerful person in the world and Time named her Person of the Year that same year, citing her leadership during European challenges such as migration and the Greek debt crisis.

Personal life

Merkel has been married twice. She kept the surname Merkel after her first marriage to Ulrich Merkel, which ended in 1982. Since 1998 she has been married to Joachim Sauer. She has no children.

Physical profile and interests

Merkel’s height is approximately 165 cm (about 5'5") and her weight is given as around 60 kg (approximately 132 lbs). She has blue eyes and light brown hair. Reported personal interests include watching soccer, cooking, and baking. Her favorite food is listed as mett-wurst with green cabbage.

Controversies and public challenges

Her refugee policy drew public debate in the context of several high-profile events in Germany, including the New Year’s Eve incidents in Cologne in early 2016, which prompted criticism and raised questions about immigration policy and public safety.

Latest updates

By 2005 Merkel had become chancellor and her prominence continued into the next decade through leadership of the CDU and her role in responding to multiple European crises. Publications and rankings in 2015 underscored her international standing at that time.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Angela Merkel (Politician), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Chancellor of Germany

Assumed office as Chancellor on 22 November 2005 after winning the 2005 national election and CDU nomination.

2005
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Career Highlights

  1. Elected to the Bundestag in 1990 for Stralsund – Nordvorpommern – Rügen
  2. Appointed Secretary-General of the CDU after 1998
  3. Became head of the CDU in 2000
  4. Won the CDU nomination and the 2005 national election; became Chancellor on 22 November 2005
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Net Worth

$11.5 million

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Angela Merkel (Politician) born?

Angela Merkel (Politician) was born on 17 July 1954.

What is Angela Merkel (Politician) known for?

Angela Merkel (Politician) is known for german Politician.

What is Angela Merkel (Politician)’s marital status?

Angela Merkel (Politician)'s marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Angela Merkel (Politician) married to?

Angela Merkel (Politician) is publicly listed as married to Joachim Sauer (1998–present); Ulrich Merkel (1977–1982).

What is Angela Merkel (Politician)’s net worth?

Angela Merkel (Politician)'s net worth is commonly listed as $11.5 million, based on available public profile information.