Study: Polarization Barometer 2025

More than 81 percent of Germans perceive society as divided. The issue of immigration is seen as the greatest source of division. The highest level of ideological polarization is associated with climate protection measures and support for Ukraine. Along with the issue of immigration, these topics also exhibit the highest level of emotional polarization. This is shown by the Polarization Barometer of the Mercator Forum on Migration and Democracy (MIDEM) at TU Dresden. The survey of nearly 34,000 people in eight EU countries—including almost 4,400 in Germany—makes it clear: On some issues, opinions diverge widely without undermining democratic cohesion. On other issues, conflicts escalate because political opponents become enemies. And still other issues show that even where there is broad consensus on the substance, high levels of emotionality block constructive debate.

The Barometer distinguishes between ideological polarization—that is, differences of opinion on the substance of issues—and affective polarization, the emotional charge attached to positions on these issues.

The interplay of ideological and affective polarization gives rise to four “discourse zones” that mark different challenges for politics and society: the division zone, the provocation zone, the conflict zone, and the compromise zone.

The study is based on a survey conducted by MIDEM in collaboration with YouGov in the spring of 2025.

Available at: https://forum-midem.de/polarisierungsbarometer-2025/