How Open-Minded is Germany? New Special Analysis of the Diversity Barometer 2025 Shows Differences Between People With and Without Migration Background

• Recent data from the Robert Bosch Stiftung show: People with migration background accept ethnic and religious diversity more strongly, but are less accepting of diversity in sexual orientation compared to people without migration background.
• About forty percent of respondents feel like second-class citizens – regardless of migration background.
• Region of origin determines welcome: Respondents mostly welcome immigrants from Northern and Western Europe, significantly less so people from Africa and the Middle East.
      

Berlin/Stuttgart, December 9, 2025 – People with and without migration background show significant differences in their assessment of various forms of social diversity. This is evidenced by the current special analysis "Participation and Belonging in Germany's Immigration Society" of the Diversity Barometer 2025 by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The Diversity Barometer is a representative survey on social coexistence in Germany.

Although the general acceptance of diversity hardly differs between people with and without migration background (62 to 63 points on a scale from 0 to 100), acceptance varies significantly regarding individual dimensions such as religion, sexual orientation, and ethnic origin.

The greatest differences are seen in religious diversity. People with migration background are significantly more open to it than people without migration background (41 to 31 points). People with migration background also view ethnic diversity more positively (62 to 54 points). The opposite is true for sexual orientation. Here, people without migration background are significantly more open (72 to 63 points).

"The results show that personal life experiences shape the view of diversity," says Dr. Raphaela Schweiger, Head of the Migration Program at the Robert Bosch Stiftung. "People with migration background who have experienced ethnic or religious diversity themselves are more open in these areas – at the same time, they are more reserved about other forms of diversity." 

For people without migration background, the place where they live significantly influences their attitude towards social diversity: Those living in Western Germany or in German cities are much more open to diversity than East Germans or people in rural areas. People with migration background show similar acceptance values regardless of where they live.

Despite different perspectives on diversity, a similarly critical sentiment prevails in both groups: About two in five respondents feel like second-class citizens. This feeling is even more pronounced among people in East Germany than among people with migration background (48 percent to 41 percent). One in two respondents also has the impression that the needs of minorities are more important to politics than the well-being of the majority.

People with migration background generally assess the current state of German society more positively: They have a better view of the economic situation and have more confidence in the problem-solving competence of politics than people without migration background. At the same time, almost three-quarters of people with migration background feel discriminated against in Germany – mainly because of their appearance, accent, or clothing. Concurrently, discriminated people with migration background show significantly higher acceptance values towards other marginalized groups than people without migration background.

"The Diversity Barometer provides important insights into the challenges and opportunities in our diverse society," explains Dr. Raphaela Schweiger. "To strengthen social cohesion, we need to actively foster dialog between different groups and work on reducing prejudices. It is also crucial to consistently combat discrimination and enhance opportunities for participation for everyone, regardless of their background. At the Robert Bosch Stiftung, we support projects that bring objectivity to debates, encourage exchange, and thereby contribute to constructive coexistence in our immigration society." 

Regarding the acceptance of immigration, the data of the special analysis show: Four out of five respondents welcome immigration from Northern and Western Europe. Respondents view migration from Eastern Europe (45 percent approval), South Asia (41 percent), Africa (36 percent), and the Middle East (less than a third) much more critically.

There is broad support for foreign students (75 percent), war refugees (72 percent), and workers (71 percent). Respondents are less welcoming to people migrating due to poverty or climate change (about a third each).

What constitutes belonging to German society is clear for most: respecting laws (91 percent), speaking German (86 percent), and working (78 percent). Origin, place of birth, or German ancestry play only a secondary role.

"Overall, the results clearly show that the view of diversity in Germany is strongly influenced by one's own life situation and origin. Overcoming these differences must be a central goal of politics and civil society to enable constructive coexistence in our diverse society," says Dr. Regina Arant, scientific director of the study at Constructor University Bremen.