Germany's political shift: Far-right rise among women and youth shocks researchers
A new study has revealed shifting political attitudes in Germany, with a notable rise in far-right and extremist views among certain groups. Women now show higher levels of far-right sentiment than men, while younger people and those of Muslim faith display increasing openness to extremist ideologies.
The findings highlight growing polarisation, particularly among under-40s and religious minorities.
The research, covering 2021 to 2025, shows a clear gender divide in far-right attitudes. In 2025, 6.5% of women surveyed exhibited 'manifest far-right views,' up from 5.6% in 2024. This marks the highest recorded level in the study. Women were also twice as likely as men to agree with the statement: 'There are too many foreigners in Germany.' Meanwhile, support among men for such views fell, dropping from 5.6% in 2024 to 4.2% in 2025.
Younger respondents displayed a stronger shift toward extremism. Among under-40s, 27.3% now show openness to far-right thinking, with 5.7% holding firmly entrenched views. Support for the far-right AfD party also grew, particularly in regional elections—reaching 21-25% among 18-44-year-olds in Rheinland-Pfalz. At the same time, satisfaction with democracy has plummeted. In North Rhine-Westphalia, only 47% of 14-18-year-olds expressed confidence in democratic systems in 2025, down from 77% in 2023. The study also examined attitudes within Muslim communities. Over 27% of Muslim respondents now hold antisemitic beliefs, a figure described as entrenched. Among young Muslims, nearly half showed openness to Islamism, with 11.5% expressing *'manifest Islamist views'* and over 45% displaying tendencies in that direction. Older generations, by contrast, remained more stable in their democratic values and showed less openness to extremist ideologies.
The findings point to a growing divide in German society, with women, younger people, and Muslim communities exhibiting higher levels of extremist attitudes. Far-right sentiment among women has reached a record high, while younger voters increasingly question democratic institutions. Meanwhile, antisemitic and Islamist views persist in specific groups, signalling potential challenges for social cohesion.
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