Prices remain a concern for the Germans

Variations in the apprehensions among Germans occur among women and men, and also between East and West in certain instances.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 24 . 2:07 PM

2 min read

Prices remain a source of concern for the Germans

Prices remain a concern for the Germans

In a recent survey titled "The Fears of the Germans," economic anxieties and immigration concerns have been identified as the most pressing issues for the German population in 2023.

The survey, commissioned by the R+V insurance company and conducted by pollsters between May and July, involved around 2,400 people aged 14 and over. The results reveal that the fear of rising living costs is the biggest concern for Germans, with 57% of women and 47% of men expressing worry.

Financial and political concerns dominate the top 10 fears in the survey. The fear of a war involving Germany has remained at the same level, while the fear that authoritarian rulers worldwide will become even more powerful has slightly increased compared to 2024. Interestingly, the fear of a state being overwhelmed by refugees has decreased from 56% in 2024 to 49% in 2025.

Professor Borucki, a political scientist, noted that the price level is still high, despite a significant drop in the inflation rate, and that people do not feel the burden has disappeared. She also pointed out that everyday fears about rising prices are particularly persistent because they affect people's daily lives deeply.

The fear of housing becoming unaffordable is the fourth most prevalent concern among Germans in 2023, with 48% expressing worry. Another possible explanation for the persistent concerns about migration is that issues like migration and integration are more frequently problematized in the East, where these concerns remain strong due to less experience with migration, stronger economic worries, and heightened cultural uncertainty related to immigration.

The state of exception has become the normal state, according to Professor Borucki. She emphasized that a uniform message is not enough for politics, and one must approach each region very differently and in a nuanced manner. Those making policy should take the clear differences between individual regions seriously, in her view.

Concerns related to immigration have significantly decreased, despite occupying much space in political debates this year. However, concerns about tensions caused by foreign immigration also decreased, from 51% in 2024 to 45% in 2025.

The level of concern has decreased slightly for all fears compared to the previous year, except for the fear that authoritarian rulers worldwide will become even more powerful and the fear of a war involving Germany.

In conclusion, economic anxieties and immigration fears continue to be the top concerns for Germans in 2023. The survey results highlight the importance of tailoring political messages and policies to individual regions and addressing the unique challenges faced by each region.