Ifo Institute study finds high crime fear in East Germany and Berlin

A study by the Ifo Institute reveals that the fear of becoming a victim of crime in Germany is unevenly distributed and only limitedly correlated with actual crime rates. According to the analysis of 5,200 respondents, residents in Saxony-Anhalt, parts of Saxony (specifically around Leipzig and Chemnitz), and Berlin report the highest levels of fear regarding crimes such as burglary, theft, assault, sexual violence, hate crime, and digital identity theft.

In contrast, people in Schleswig-Holstein and large parts of Lower Saxony report the lowest levels of fear. The study highlights a discrepancy between perception and reality; for example, while Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein have comparable crime rates of approximately 8,000 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants, the fear levels in Saxony-Anhalt are significantly higher.

Demographic findings indicate that individuals with lower educational attainment tend to report higher levels of fear, whereas fear generally decreases as education levels rise. The study noted little difference in fear levels between men and women.