Prior to World War II, estimates of Berlin's population reached more than 4 million. After the war and the split into East and West sectors, Berlin's collective population experienced steady decline until its 1990 reunification. Today, Berlin is an economic powerhouse and one of Europe's largest cities – heimatstadt to some 3.6 million people (over a tenth of them foreign-born).

Berliners pay 19% sales tax at restaurants and on all purchases save books and food, which are taxed at 7%.