A new survey from the Allensbach Institute reveals that Germans are feeling less safe than ever, with immigration at the heart of their concerns.
The Security Report 2025, compiled for the Centre for Strategy and Higher Leadership, shows a staggering 81% of Germans believe there are too many refugees in the country. Even beyond asylum seekers, 58% say the overall foreign population is too high.
The study also highlights a sharp rise in personal safety fears. A record-low 60% of Germans say they feel safe in their own country, a steady decline from 71-82% between 2019 and 2022. Even more alarming, 30% now fear falling victim to violent crime at random—double the rate from 2022.
These concerns existed even before the January 22 attack in Aschaffenburg, where an Afghan migrant killed two people, including a toddler, and injured three others. The incident has only fueled anxiety over migrant crime and boosted support for the immigration-critical Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
But crime isn’t the only worry. The poll shows 61% fear Germany could be dragged into a war, while 79% see Russia as the biggest threat to global stability. In a striking shift, nearly half of respondents (46%) now view the United States as a danger to world peace—up from just 24% a year ago.
When it comes to national preparedness, the outlook is grim. Only 10% believe Germany is ready for war or major crises, while 82% think the country is ill-prepared, citing weak emergency plans and cyber vulnerabilities.
With Germany’s national election just weeks away, immigration remains a hot-button issue. The Left Party is pushing for an influx of one million migrants annually, calling it a “manageable number.” However, with public anxiety at an all-time high, voter sentiment may tell a different story.
