Is Declining Trust a Threat to Democracy? Political Trust and Participation in an Immigration Society
Policy Brief | July 2026
Political trust in Germany had remained remarkably stable for a long time. Between 2022 and 2024, however, it decli significantly: in 2022, around two-thirds of people without a migration background still trusted the Federal Government and the Bundestag, whereas by 2024 these figures had declined to 44 per cent and 53 per cent respectively. Although people with a migration background continue to place slightly more trust in both institutions, figures have also declined in this demographic – from 72 to 60 per cent for the Federal Government and from 70 to 61 per cent for the Bundestag.
Based on data from the SVR Integration Barometer and the German General Social Survey (ALLBUS), this policy brief examines the various factors that influence political trust and highlights how this relates to political participation.
