Survey Reveals Growing Pessimism Among Germans About the Future

A recent global survey conducted by Ipsos indicates that Germans are increasingly adopting a pessimistic outlook regarding their future, the future of their families, and the overall situation in the world. According to the data, only 40 percent of respondents in Germany expressed positive expectations for their personal future over the next year, a significant decline from 53 percent just one year prior.

This decline in optimism reflects a broader global trend, with the average level of optimism worldwide dropping to 59 percent, down by eight percentage points since the previous year. In Germany, the percentage of individuals who identified as explicitly pessimistic has risen to 45 percent.

When examining sentiments about the future of Germany specifically, only 22 percent of those surveyed reported feeling optimistic, while 45 percent expressed clear pessimism about the nation's trajectory. The survey results regarding the global situation were even more disheartening, with just 14 percent of Germans viewing the world positively, marking a two-point decrease from the previous year. In contrast, the global average shows that 29 percent of people still maintain a hopeful perspective.

Furthermore, the survey revealed that a substantial 82 percent of Germans feel that the world is changing too rapidly, reflecting a four-point increase from last year. This sentiment underscores the growing unease among the population regarding the pace of societal and global changes.

In terms of national pride, the survey found that only 39 percent of Germans reported feeling very proud of their country, a figure that falls short of both the global average of 65 percent and the European Union average of 59 percent. Notably, there is a significant disparity in national pride based on gender and income level; 47 percent of men and 45 percent of high earners express strong patriotic feelings, compared to just 31 percent of women and 30 percent of low-income respondents.

The Ipsos survey was conducted online with approximately 1,000 individuals aged 16 to 74 in Germany between May 23 and June 6. In total, the survey included responses from 33,083 people across 43 countries, with representative samples in 20 of those nations, including Germany.