Study: German Youth Look Pessimistically Towards the Future of Germany - German youth fear war and climate change but stay hopeful about their own lives

Young people in Germany are increasingly worried about global issues, with war and climate change topping their list of concerns. A recent survey reveals shifting priorities, as optimism about the country's future declines. Yet despite these fears, most remain hopeful about their personal lives.

The survey shows that 63% of young Germans now rank war as their biggest concern. Climate change follows closely at 43%, alongside fears of populism, extremism, and environmental pollution—each also at 43%. These issues far outweigh worries about job security (23%) or education and training (19%).

When looking ahead, only 36% feel optimistic about the world's future, a drop from 44% in 2021. Confidence in Germany's future has also fallen sharply, with just 44% expressing a positive outlook for 2025/2026, compared to 62% three years ago. However, personal optimism remains steady, with 80% still hopeful about their own future—nearly the same as the 81% recorded in 2021.

The findings do not highlight specific government initiatives since 2021 that directly address these concerns. While programmes like weltwärts—which supports young volunteers in development work—and holiday youth schemes exist, broader policies targeting war, climate change, or extremism are not detailed in the available data.

The gap between personal and global optimism is clear among young Germans. Their confidence in their own futures stays strong, but doubts about the country and the world have grown. The survey underscores a generation focused on large-scale challenges, yet waiting for concrete responses.