Germans have had enough of one bad government after another, and most are now looking to escape—not just from Germany, but from the entire EU.
According to a new YouGov poll published a few days ago, 31% of Germans would “definitely” emigrate if work, financial, or personal factors didn’t stand in their way. Another 27% said they would likely or very likely leave as well, while only 37% said they would likely or definitely stay in Germany even if given the chance to relocate.
Among the reasons for this growing dissatisfaction, the highest ranking are migration (61%) and the cost of living (41%). Over a third of respondents also said the idea of emigration has crossed their minds more often in recent months.
The dissatisfaction with the general state of the country is particularly prevalent among FDP and AfD voters who feel the government has abandoned them. Nearly four in five (79%) AfD supporters would leave the country if they could.
Emigration has been a problem in Germany for years. In 2024, nearly 750,000 native Germans left the country. In contrast, nearly 900,000 migrants were given a residence permit in the same year.
The irony is that while German politicians argue for immigration as a solution to the shrinking population, surveys suggest time and again that native-born Germans leave precisely because of migration.
According to the YouGov poll, those considering emigration would likely choose German-speaking countries. Non-EU member Switzerland tops the list with 30%. It is followed by Austria with 23%—its military neutrality makes it attractive to the one in five respondents who are concerned about escalating the conflict with Russia. Spain (22%) and Canada (17%) are also popular options.
Die Welt interviewed Basel-based sociologist Oliver Nachtwey, who said Germans consider the non-EU and non-NATO member Switzerland their “dream destination” because they see in it the Germany of the ‘80s and ‘90s: functioning infrastructure, a decent cost of living, and accountable politicians—things that Germans have lost hope of ever improving back home.
Newly elected Chancellor Merz has a major responsibility in this regard. Migration was by far the biggest concern (56%) of German voters ahead of February’s election, yet Merz was quick to abandon most of his campaign promises for tougher order controls and sped up deportations as soon as the ballots closed.