Politics · Germany · 2 hrs ago
German study finds falling trust in democracy and rising far-right views
A new survey finds support for democracy weakening in Germany as nationalist and authoritarian views gain ground.
The Leipzig Authoritarianism Study has tracked attitudes every two years since 2002, and its latest survey questioned 2,507 people aged 16 and over.
Support for democracy as an idea fell to 89.3%, below 90% for the first time in the study; the decline was especially sharp in eastern Germany.
Only one-third of respondents said they were satisfied with how democracy works in daily life.
About 22% supported a single strong party representing the nation, while 6.9% held a consistently far-right worldview, the highest share since 2012.
Far-right views were more common in eastern Germany, where 8.5% held such a worldview, compared with 6.5% in the west.
The study’s authors say political leaders should offer democratic alternatives, but no specific next steps are reported.
A German study found that satisfaction with democracy has fallen to a new low, while nationalist and authoritarian attitudes have increased.
National approval of democracy as an idea fell to 89.3%, the first time it has been below 90% in the study series.
Only about one-third of respondents said they were satisfied with democracy in everyday life.
The share with a consistently far-right worldview was 6.9%, its highest level since 2014, though below the 8.8% recorded in 2012.
The survey also found regional differences, with lower support for democracy and more far-right attitudes in eastern Germany than in western Germany.
- Who
- Researchers at the University of Leipzig’s Else Frenkel-Brunswik Institute for Democracy Research conducted the study. It surveyed people in Germany aged 16 and older.
- What
- The latest Leipzig Authoritarianism Study found falling satisfaction with democracy and rising nationalist and authoritarian attitudes.
- When
- The survey ran from March 16 to June 3, 2026. The study was presented on November 11, 2026.
- Where
- Germany, with results comparing eastern and western Germany.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers surveyed 2,507 people aged 16 and older who had sufficient German-language skills to complete the questionnaire.
The Leipzig Authoritarianism Study was presented in Berlin.
- Democracy as an idea
- 89.3% approval nationwide
- Satisfaction with democracy
- 22.8% in the east; 36% in the west
- Consistently far-right worldview
- 6.9% nationwide; 8.5% in the east and 6.5% in the west
- Authoritarian nationalist government
- 22.3% supported a single strong party nationwide; 30.9% in the east
- Survey sample
- 2,507 people aged 16 and older
3 sources
What people are saying
Our democracy is under great pressure. It has lost acceptance among the general population. It is alarming how much an authoritarian yearning is taking its place.
The rejection of the present state of the world must be countered with compelling democratic alternatives and the ability to take political action today.