Diversity Barometer 2025: Acceptance of Social Diversity in Germany Declines – Polarization on the Rise

Berlin/Stuttgart, September 16, 2025 – Acceptance of social diversity in Germany is noticeably declining. This is the finding of the latest edition of the Diversity Barometer 2025 published by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The Diversity Barometer is a representative survey on social coexistence in Germany, last conducted in 2019.

While in 2019, 63 percent of respondents viewed increasing diversity as rather or very enriching, only 45 percent did so in 2025. During the same period, the share of those who perceive diversity as a threat rose by 17 percent.

The overall diversity index dropped from 68 points in 2019 to 63 points in 2025 (scale 0–100). Although this value remains above an average of 50 points, the decline is a clear signal of growing social tensions.

The interplay of various global crises – from the pandemic to energy and security issues to economic uncertainties – is straining public openness to diversity, according to the study’s authors.

“Many people currently feel insecure or overwhelmed. Fears of loss lead to a perception of exclusion as a form of protection,” explains Ottilie Bälz, Director of Global Issues funding area at the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

The Diversity Barometer examines public attitudes toward seven dimensions of social diversity: age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic weakness, ethnic background, and religion.

The latest results show that acceptance has declined in four of these areas since 2019 – in some cases significantly. Support for the dimension of disability remains particularly stable, continuing to receive the highest scores (82 points). People with disabilities are often met with greater empathy compared to other diversity groups. Attitudes toward age also remain largely unchanged (71 points).

In terms of gender, a positive trend is evident – acceptance has increased by five points to 74. In contrast, sexual orientation has seen a noticeable decline, dropping by eight points to 69. Ethnic background is viewed even more critically: nationwide, acceptance has dropped by up to 17 points – the sharpest decline among all dimensions.

Acceptance of religion has also fallen significantly. With a national average of just 34 points, widespread rejection is evident, particularly affecting Muslims. Religious Christians and Jews face significantly less rejection. Compared to all other dimensions, acceptance scores for religion are the lowest.

The dimension of socio-economic weakness also scores poorly, confirming the trend: public openness toward marginalized groups is decreasing – a troubling signal for social cohesion.

Citizens in Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia show the highest levels of acceptance nationwide, followed by Saarland and Hamburg. The middle range includes Lower Saxony, Bremen, Berlin, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, and Baden-Württemberg. Thuringia, Saxony, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania rank lowest.

Notably, the former East-West divide is no longer evident – acceptance is also declining in western states. In particular, the city-states of Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg have seen a deterioration in values compared to 2019.

“The divide between supporters and opponents of diversity has deepened since 2019. Some political and media actors deliberately exploit uncertainty to further fuel division,” comments Dr. Ferdinand Mirbach, Senior Expert and Diversity Officer at the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

In addition to these alarming findings, the Diversity Barometer 2025 also highlights potential solutions: everyday encounters, dialogue formats, and shared learning experiences can foster acceptance.

“Social diversity is a reality – and it will continue to grow. It can be a benefit for all of us if we shape it constructively. To do so, we must create spaces where different groups can meet,” emphasizes Mirbach.

The Robert Bosch Stiftung supports numerous projects across Germany that promote successful coexistence at the local and regional level – for example, the Islamberatung (Islamic Affairs Consultats) which for over ten years has helped foster mutual understanding between municipal administrations and Muslim associations and organizations.

“With the Diversity Barometer, the Foundation aims to contribute facts to a debate that is often emotionally charged. Too often, discussions about diversity are based on assumptions. Our data helps make developments visible and bring more objectivity to the conversation,” adds Ottilie Bälz of the Robert Bosch Stiftung.