Prices in Germany remain a source of concern
In a recent survey commissioned by the R+V insurance company, titled 'The Fears of the Germans,' political scientist Isabelle Borucki revealed some interesting insights about the primary concerns of the German populace.
The survey, which interviewed around 2,400 people aged 14 and over between May and July, showed that the fear of rising living costs remains the greatest concern for Germans in 2025. This fear has been at the top of the ranking since the survey began in 1992. Approximately 52% of people are worried that costs, such as for groceries or rent, will go up.
Financial and political concerns dominate the top 10 fears in the survey. The fear of tax increases or benefit cuts ranks third among Germans' concerns this year, with 49% expressing worry. The fear of a war involving Germany has remained at the same level compared to last year.
Interestingly, concerns related to migration have significantly decreased, despite taking up much space in political debates this year. While 51% of respondents expressed fear of the state being overwhelmed by refugees in 2024, this number dropped to 49% in 2025. However, migration concerns in Eastern Germany have not decreased as much as in Western Germany.
Regions in East Germany show higher concern about migration and integration, with refugees perceiving more discrimination there compared to West Germany, and many people feeling an overload related to irregular migration and integration challenges in various areas.
Women may be more willing to admit that they are afraid or more aware of unequal pay, according to Borucki. In the survey, women were found to be more worried about rising living costs than men, with 57% of women and 47% of men expressing concern. The fear of housing in Germany becoming unaffordable ranks fourth among Germans' concerns this year, with 48% expressing worry.
The fear that authoritarian rulers worldwide will become even more powerful has increased slightly compared to last year. This concern ranks second in the survey's ranking of the greatest fears, which are those that most frequently received values of 5 to 7.
Borucki suggests that the differences between individual regions should be taken seriously when making policy, as a uniform message may not be effective. She also stated that the price level is still high, despite a significant fall in inflation rate.
Overall, the survey provides a valuable insight into the concerns of the German population and can help policymakers and leaders better understand the issues that matter most to their constituents.
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