Germany Divided

Politics

Satisfaction with democracy

Share of people aged 16+ who are fairly or very satisfied with how democracy works in Germany, 2025

51% of people in the East said in 2025 that they were satisfied with how democracy works in Germany, against 62% in the West. The gap has narrowed from 18 points in 2023 to 11, because eastern satisfaction rose from 43%. Only 25% of easterners trust the Bundestag (West 33%).

Former Westexcl. Berlin
62%
Former Eastincl. Berlin
51%
Germany
60%
2025 · published only for East and West, not by state

Former West

62%

excl. Berlin

Former East

51%

incl. Berlin

Germany

60%

The East stands at 82% of the West's level (2025).

Then and now

The same measure in 2023, for comparison with 2025.

Former West

61%

excl. Berlin

Former East

43%

incl. Berlin

Germany

58%

The East stands at 70% of the West's level (2023).

Notes & caveats

  • Telephone survey (CATI) by forsa, 23 April to 30 May 2025, 4,005 interviews with people aged 16 and over, weighted to the Mikrozensus 2024.
  • East and West are by place of residence. Berliners are asked whether they live in the former western or eastern part of the city, so "East" includes East Berlin and "West" includes West Berlin. The report shows no separate figure for Berlin and no figures by state.
  • Measured by where people grew up rather than where they live now, the East–West gap is 15 points instead of 11 (report text).
  • Satisfaction by year (West / East / Germany): 2023 61 / 43 / 58; 2024 63 / 48 / 61; 2025 62 / 51 / 60. The report warns that differences of 3 points or less may be chance, especially for 2024 (smaller comparable sample).
  • Satisfaction with the constitutional order 2025: West 81%, East 70%, Germany 79%.
  • Trust ("fairly" or "a great deal") 2025, West / East / Germany: Bundestag 33 / 25 / 31%; federal government 28 / 20 / 27%; Federal Constitutional Court 68 / 55 / 65%; local mayor 53 / 53 / 54%.
  • East and West values for 2023 and 2024, the West value for 2025 and the East/West trust values are read from the report's charts; each is consistent with the figures stated in the report text (Germany totals, the eastern value and the 11-point gap).