Germany poll shows 82 percent believe social decency is declining

An Insa poll conducted for T-Online reveals that while 88 percent of Germans consider decency important, 82 percent believe that polite behavior in society is declining. This perception of decline is most pronounced among older citizens, with 95 percent of those over 70 observing a decrease, compared to 67 percent of those aged 18 to 29.

The survey highlights significant social divides. Among low-income earners, 88 percent believe decency is decreasing, whereas only 50 percent of the upper class share this view. Furthermore, 44 percent of the upper class reported an increase in decent behavior, compared to just 6 percent of low-income respondents.

Overall societal mood in Germany has darkened, with 83 percent of respondents viewing the current atmosphere negatively, up from 69 percent in June 2025. The decline in positive sentiment is particularly sharp among the middle class, where positive assessments dropped from 21 percent to 10 percent over the past year.