Study: Many young people see a bleak future for Germany

Many young people in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are pessimistic about Germany's future, according to a study. "Our young people look at their own lives with a lot of hope - but with skepticism about the future of our country," explained Claudia Beutmann, regional managing director of the Barmer health insurance company in Saxony. In the latest Sinus study conducted by Barmer, only 40 percent of respondents in the three states stated that they were optimistic about the future of the country. That is eleven percentage points less than in 2021.

Much optimism about personal future

At the same time, 72% are optimistic about their personal future. This figure has also fallen significantly since 2021 (82%). Around 2,000 young people between the ages of 14 and 17 were surveyed nationwide for the study last fall, including 223 from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.

"Many young people have the feeling that they can hardly influence major global political and social developments. In contrast, they see their own future as something they can shape themselves," said the Barmer boss, evaluating the results. It is to be hoped that this personal optimism about the future will not continue to decline despite the nationwide and global challenges.

What worries young people the most?

According to the study, global conflicts are now at the top of the list of fears for the future: around 66 percent of young people in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are very worried about wars. This is 13 percentage points more than in 2023 (53%), when this question was asked for the first time.

About 38% cite migration as their main concern, 37% each cite political populism or extremism and environmental pollution. Climate change worries 35% of respondents. Economic (30%) and energy crises (20%) play a lesser role.

How satisfied are young people with their lives right now

The majority - around 85% of young people in the three countries - are satisfied with their lives. This figure has risen by four percentage points since 2021 (81%).

What is the Sinus Youth Study?

The Sinus Youth Study has been conducted annually since 2021 on behalf of Barmer. It sheds light on what concerns young people - from fears about the future to topics such as cyberbullying and climate change to issues surrounding digitalization and artificial intelligence. The results will be published in relation to the respective topics over the course of the year.