First, the good news: According to a recent survey, racism and discrimination in Germany are on a slight decline compared to studies from previous years. But that's where the reassuring findings end. This is because xenophobic and derogatory views remain rampant.

From October 2025 through January of this year, approximately 8,200 people in Germany between the ages of 18 and 74 were surveyed about their views on racism and discrimination. The survey was commissioned by the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (Dezim for short).

The result: A quarter of those surveyed stated that they believe in the existence of racial differences, a notion that has long been refuted by science. Furthermore, nearly half of all respondents believe that certain groups are inherently more hardworking than others.

One of the co-authors of the study is Tae Jun Kim, who has a doctorate in sociology and works at the National Discrimination and Racism Monitor. He has noticed for some time that racist views are expressed less directly in society than in the past. "Modern racism is often just a more polite way of justifying existing hierarchies and subordination among groups," he said.

Daily confrontation with discrimination

But Ferda Ataman, Germany's independent federal anti-discrimination commissionerand a journalist by occupation, knows from her daily work that there are also plenty of situations where people are directly confronted with discrimination. Last week, she told a story in Berlin about Sarah, a Black woman who had turned to her office for help.

"While shopping in the supermarket, an employee approached her and began searching her stroller without asking for permission or showing any consideration for the child sitting in the stroller," she said. "There was no apparent reason for her to search the stroller. When asked what she was doing, the employee justified her actions with the statement: 'Sorry, but someone like you stole from here recently."

Ataman had also published a study showing that one in eight people living in Germany experienced discrimination at least once in 2022. This was the conclusion of the survey "How Discrimination is Experienced in Germany," which Ataman presented in Berlin.

In other words, 9 million people in Germany know what it's like to be treated unfairly because of their physical appearance. This second study was conducted by the Center for Integration and Migration Research. In it, the researchers used data from the comprehensive Socio-Economic Panel of 2022, a survey on a wide range of social issues in which approximately 30,000 people took part.

"Discrimination in Germany is not an isolated case, but a widespread phenomenon," said Ataman, summarizing the report. "Discrimination doesn't just happen on the fringes of society, but at its very core. At work, at school, when looking for a place to live, when shopping." Just like Sarah at the supermarket.

Half of those affected do not take action against discrimination

Under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), which has been in force for 20 years, discrimination based on most outward characteristics is prohibited. But that is of little help to those affected, and they know it. According to the study, more than half of those surveyed did not take any action against the discrimination they experienced.

At least around 30% of those affected confronted the person responsible for the discrimination directly and openly. But only 3% took legal action.

And what do those affected believe is the reason they are being discriminated against? The study also provides information on this. The largest group, at 42%, is made up of people who feel they are disadvantaged on the basis of their ethnic heritage or race. Almost 24% feel unfairly treated because of their gender, most of whom are women.

But age, religious orientation and illness are also reasons that were given for discrimination. Unsurprisingly, the largest group of people believe they are discriminated against because of their ethnic heritage or skin color.

Germany has a lot of catching up to do

That's why Ataman now wants to make sure that things like nationality are also included in the traits that are protected from discrimination under the AGG. She also said that Germany has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to fighting discrimination.

In Belgium, for example, the authorities offer legal protection to those affected, while Ataman's agency can only offer advice. And what's more, she said, everyday discrimination is less prevalent in English-speaking countries and Scandinavia than it is in Germany.

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (ADS) is an independent body within the German Federal Ministry of Education, and Ataman has been the government's commissioner since 2022.

This article was originally written in German.

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