The rising cost of living is once again the greatest concern for people in Germany, according to the latest edition of the long-running study “The Fears of Germans 2025” conducted by the R+V Insurance Information Center. More than half of respondents (52 percent) fear that their money will not be enough to cover future living expenses, keeping this issue at the top of the ranking for the 15th time.
Although inflation has slowed, Germans continue to feel the pressure of increasing energy, food, and service prices. “The fear of rising living costs remains the number one concern in our study,” said study director Grischa Brower-Rabinowitsch.
Closely following the cost of living, concerns about Germany’s finances rank third in the survey. Nearly half of respondents (49%) fear permanent tax increases or benefit cuts due to the country’s strained budget situation. Housing affordability ranks fourth, with 48% of Germans worried about rising property costs and pressure on the tight housing market.
“These fears carry social dynamite,” said political scientist Professor Isabelle Borucki of Philipps University Marburg, who advises the study. She emphasized the need for stronger social housing policies, more affordable home ownership opportunities, and faster approval procedures.
Migration remains a central issue in German society. Forty-nine percent of those surveyed fear that the number of refugees will overwhelm the state, putting this concern in second place, though down from 56 percent in 2024. Meanwhile, 45 percent worry about tensions arising from continued immigration, a decrease compared to the previous year. The study notes significant differences between East and West Germany: 56 percent of respondents in the East fear state overload from migration, compared to 47 percent in the West.
Political issues also continue to shape fears. While 42 percent believe German politics is overwhelmed by its responsibilities, this marks an improvement from 49 percent in 2024. “This shows a slight gain in trust in politics after the early federal election and the shift to a black-red coalition,” said Brower-Rabinowitsch.
International politics also feature prominently in the study. Forty-five percent of Germans fear that U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies make the world more dangerous. However, this marks a significant decline compared to his first term, when fears reached 69 percent in 2018.
The study found that fear of authoritarian leaders worldwide is the only concern that has risen in 2025, reaching 47 percent. At the same time, other fears, such as war involving Germany, economic recession, and political extremism, have eased compared to previous years.
One of the most notable findings is the sharp decline in fear of social division. While 48 percent of Germans expressed concern in 2024, only 39 percent do so in 2025. For many, division has become normalized as a constant backdrop to public debate.
For the first time, the survey asked what type of divisions people fear most. The leading answer (72 percent) was a split between those with and without a migration background. Other major concerns included a divide between rich and poor (58 percent) and differences over democratic values (57 percent).
Professor Borucki warned: “Polarization in the understanding of democracy is a clear warning sign. Trust in democratic institutions has become more fragile.”
Despite the prominence of financial worries, the overall “fear index”, the average value of all concerns measured, has fallen significantly to 37 percent, down from 42 percent in 2024. This marks the second-lowest level in the study’s history, only slightly higher than the 36 percent recorded in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The constant exposure to multiple crises has led to a sense of fatigue. People have adapted to a state of ongoing uncertainty,” explained Borucki.
About the study
The R+V study has been conducted annually since 1992 and is now in its 34th edition. Each year, around 2,400 German-speaking residents aged 14 and older are interviewed about their biggest political, economic, social, environmental, and health-related fears. The 2025 survey was carried out between May 12 and July 22.
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