New study unveils topmost worries among Germans

By Andreas Rabenstein, dpa I Wednesday, Oct. 09, 2024

 

BERLIN – The rising cost of living and the impact of migrant arrivals into Germany are the two top concerns weighing on the minds of German citizens, a long-term study published on Wednesday has found.

Rising prices are the number one German angst, with 57% of respondents saying they are worried about the cost of living surging further. It was also the concern named most often in the 33 surveys conducted as part of the study.

“A look at our long-term statistics shows that when it comes to their own wallets, Germans are sensitive,” says study head Grischa Brower-Rabinowitsc.

Some 52% of respondents said they were worried about rent becoming too expensive, a concern ranking third in the study.

However, financial sentiment has improved compared to 2023, with concerns regarding rising cost of living and rent both declining by eight percentage points.

Meanwhile the issue of migration also continues to preoccupy people in Germany, coming in at second place on the list of concerns. More than half of those surveyed, or 56%, are worried that society and the authorities are not prepared to deal with the number of refugees arriving in the country.

Some 51% of respondents fear that further immigration could lead to tensions in society. “Fundamental problems with immigration and integration have not been addressed for a long time,” said political scientist Isabelle Borucki, who worked as an adviser on the study.

Dubbed “Concerns of the Germans,” the long-term study has been carried out on behalf of insurers R+V Versicherung for more than 30 years, surveying the population on issues in politics, economy, family and health.

For this year’s study, some 2,400 respondents from the age of 14 were questioned between July and August.