Young people in Germany trust in democracy and the EU

Many young people in Germany have confidence in democracy and the European Union. In a representative survey of 18- to 30-year-olds in ten European countries, 59 percent of respondents from Germany said they trust democracy, and 62 percent expressed trust in the European Union. In comparison, an average of only 50 percent of respondents from the other nine countries trust democracy, and 57 percent trust the EU. Education and science are held in the highest regard, with around three-quarters of respondents in Germany stating they trust these areas.

However, young people are more critical of political institutions in Germany: more than half of those surveyed between the ages of 18 and 30 (52 percent) expressed distrust in the government, and 45 percent lacked trust in the parliament. Distrust in the media (60 percent) and religion (58 percent) is also high.

“Young adults in Germany generally trust democracy and the EU, which is good news, especially with the European elections and state elections this year in mind. However, it is important not to squander this trust. Good policy for young people should involve forward-thinking decisions made in their interests and include them more strongly in the political process than before,” says Regina von Görtz, a youth expert at the Bertelsmann Stiftung.

Not only concerns about climate, but also mental health

It is important to understand what concerns young adults. According to the survey, their greatest worries are about human rights violations, climate change, and sexual harassment. However, when it comes to climate change, their fears are no greater than those of the older generation. In fact, a higher percentage of 31- to 70-year-olds report following an environmentally conscious lifestyle compared to the younger respondents. “Young adults remain concerned about climate change, but they no longer dominate the issue. It would be fundamentally wrong to reduce their concerns to just this topic. As a society, we need to pay closer attention to what is really weighing on them,” emphasizes Anja Langness, a youth expert at the Bertelsmann Stiftung.

Mental health plays a major role for young people: 41 percent of them express concerns about it—significantly more than older respondents (26 percent). Additionally, a much higher proportion of young adults feel lonely compared to those aged 31 to 70. Furthermore, like the older respondents, they expect their mental health to deteriorate in the coming years.

Overall, the survey participants, regardless of age, view the future with concern. Thirty-six percent of younger people and 42 percent of older people expect various factors—including living standards, climate, and income inequality—to worsen. While younger respondents tend to believe more in improvement than older ones, they remain in the minority. “Low trust in political decision-makers and a lack of optimism about the future, particularly among the younger generation, pose a serious challenge for our democratic society. Targeted measures are needed to strengthen trust in politics' ability to solve problems. An example of this is promoting the active participation of young people in political discourse,” stresses Regina von Görtz.

Young adults strive for traditional life goals

In their personal priorities, the 18- to 30-year-olds differ less from previous generations than is often assumed. When asked in which areas of life they hope to see positive changes over the next five years, they mainly mentioned: having many possessions, good looks, clear goals, a successful career, and owning a home. “Even though many young adults have an idealistic outlook, they predominantly pursue traditional goals. This is often overlooked in public perception but should play an important role, especially for political leaders. Young adults expect answers from politicians on how they can achieve their goals despite all the upheavals and challenges,” explains Regina von Görtz.

Additional Information:

For the study “The Next Generation in Germany: Perspectives on Building a Sustainable Tomorrow,” the international market research institute Glocalities from the Netherlands conducted a representative survey of 2,248 people in Germany, including 516 people aged 18 to 30 and 1,732 people aged 31 to 70. The survey was conducted online from February to April 2023. Glocalities compared the results with survey data from 4,399 young people aged 18 to 30 from identical surveys in nine other European countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom).

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