New figures from a nationwide survey suggest that concerns about wealth inequality are now firmly rooted in mainstream opinion in Germany.
Just days before Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) on May 1st, a public holiday often accompanied by demonstrations for social justice in Germany, new figures highlight deep unease about how money and assets are shared across society.
In total, 81 percent of respondents to an ARD survey conducted in April said they believed economic prosperity in Germany is unfairly distributed, while only 15 percent said the current situation was fair.
The research is based on interviews with 2,084 German‑speaking residents aged 16 and over.
What does the survey reveal about attitudes to wealth?
The belief that wealth is unfairly distributed cuts across income levels, age groups and regions in Germany, according to the results of the survey.
Many respondents also described a disconnect between work and reward. One commonly voiced frustration was that people increasingly struggle to afford housing despite having a job.
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The survey also highlighted structural and regional tensions. Respondents from eastern Germany frequently pointed to long‑term disadvantages, arguing that private wealth there “first had to be created – and still has to be”.
Others criticised what they see as an unequal tax burden, claiming that low‑ and middle‑income earners shoulder a disproportionate share while larger fortunes remain comparatively protected.
What do people think should change?
The survey offers clear clues about what many people believe would make the system more fair, with a strong majority favouring redistribution through the tax system.
Some 64 percent support reintroducing a wealth tax, while 61 percent said they would support higher taxes on large inheritances.
At the same time, the survey shows strong resistance to cuts in core social systems such as pensions, healthcare and long‑term care – and broad agreement that basic social protections should not be weakened.
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Views were more divided when it came to “personal sacrifices” to stabilise public finances. About half of respondents (47 percent) said they understood the need for such sacrifices, while a roughly equal number disagreed.
The survey also revealed strong opinions on pension reform. Large majorities supported including civil servants, the self‑employed and politicians in the statutory pension system and favoured linking pensions more closely to years of contributions.
By contrast, most respondents reject raising the retirement age in line with life expectancy or shifting towards a more US‑style system based on individual responsibility.
When it comes to immigration, two‑thirds of respondents agreed that migrants should only receive social benefits after working in Germany for a longer period.
Do the facts support people’s perceptions?
A 2025 study by Bundesbank largely supports this sense of imbalance.
The study found that the top 10 percent of households own more than 60 percent of private wealth in Germany. This makes the country among the most unequal in Europe, surpassed only by Austria among the 20 countries examined.
And while wealth inequality hasn’t actually increased significantly in recent years, the picture looks different when inflation is taken into account.
READ ALSO: Majority of Germans support higher taxes for the wealthy, survey finds
Median net household wealth fell by 16 percent between 2021 and 2023, from €90,500 to €76,000, according to the study, with losses especially severe among poorer households.
In other words, while inequality may not have worsened on paper, many middle- and low-income households have become noticeably poorer in practice.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thelocal.de
