Berlin, Germany – According to a recent data analysis commissioned by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, young people in Germany between the ages of 18 and 30 have more trust in the European Union than their counterparts in other European countries. However, they lack confidence in the German government and parliament.
The survey, conducted by the international market research institute Glocalities, found that 59% of young respondents in Germany have confidence in democracy, while 62% have confidence in the EU. In contrast, only 50% of respondents in the other nine countries surveyed have confidence in democracy, and 57% in the EU. The survey was conducted online over a three-month period from February to April 2023, and included 2,248 respondents in Germany, 516 of whom were between the ages of 18 and 30.
Education and science were found to be the most highly regarded fields among young people in Germany, with around three quarters of respondents indicating confidence in these areas. However, there is a high level of distrust in the country’s political institutions, with 52% of young participants expressing distrust in the government and 45% lacking confidence in parliament. Distrust was also expressed towards the media (60%) and religion (58%).
The survey also revealed the top concerns of young people in Germany, including human rights violations, climate change, and sexual harassment. Mental health was found to be a major concern for 41% of young respondents, significantly more than older respondents (26%). This issue was also reflected in the fact that more young people reported feeling alone in recent times compared to their older counterparts. However, both age groups believe that their mental health will deteriorate in the years ahead.
The survey also highlighted concerns about the future, with 36% of young respondents and 42% of older respondents expecting various factors such as living standards, the climate, and income inequality to worsen. Interestingly, a larger percentage of the 18 to 30 age group anticipate improvement, although this remains a minority view among younger respondents.
The study, titled “The Next Generation in Germany: Perspectives on Building a Sustainable Tomorrow,” compared the results with data from 4,399 young people aged 18 to 30 from identical surveys in nine other European countries. These countries included Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Media contacts for the Bertelsmann Stiftung are Regina von Görtz and Anja Langness, who can be reached at +49 52 41 81 81 593 and +49 52 41 81 81 169, respectively. The study was distributed by Pressat, a UK-based news distribution service.
