Do you think life is great in Germany? Many youth of the country disagree. A growing number of people aged 14-29 in Germany say they are actively planning to leave their homeland. The recently published study “Jugend in Deutschland” or “Youth in Germany” shows that about 21% of young Germans surveyed are actively planning to leave Germany in order to find a better life. 41% of those surveyed said they could envision moving abroad in the long term.
The findings are based on a nationally representative survey 2,012 people aged 14 to 29 in Germany, done between 9 January and 9 February 2026 by Datajockey Verlag.
So what is the reason for the change? Those surveyed said they were concerned about economic security in Germany, where the economy has been stagnant for the past two years. Participants said rising housing costs, poor career prospects in the face of AI, and increasing financial stress are making it harder for young people to become independent.
“The results of the study show dramatically how much the pressures of recent years are affecting young people – in the form of stress, exhaustion and an increased sense of lack of prospects,” said study director Simon Schnetzer.
a political problem
There has also been a shift toward political extremes among Gen Z in Germany. A report by Germany’s “Tageschau” news program found that 21% of voters under the age of 25 voted for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the recent Rhineland-Palatinate state election. Meanwhile the leftist party, Die Linke, received 19% of the votes from this age group. The political situation in the country – particularly the rise of far-right politics – is causing many young people to consider leaving the country.
“I think every friend of mine is thinking about it — especially if you’re racialized, if you’re part of a minority in some way,” Riffe, a master’s student in sociocultural studies, told DW. She adds: “I’m very worried, especially since a lot of cultural jobs, jobs that work for democratization, are being cut. I think fascism is on the rise.” Riff points to the growing prominence of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and steps by Social Democrat Chancellor Friedrich Merz and coalition partners to appease voters on the right of the political spectrum. “They are already taking some of the steps that the AfD promised, so I’m very concerned,” she says. Still, the question of where to go remains unanswered. “I know it’s not easy to migrate.”
mental health is deteriorating
Mental health seems to be deteriorating in Germany. The number of young people saying they need psychological support has reached a new high of 29%, the study shows. This figure is even higher among young women (34%), students (32%) and unemployed youth (42%). Many survey participants reported that they are increasingly turning to AI-supported counseling services to deal with personal problems.
Perhaps this is why the idea of choosing a different lifestyle outside Germany is attractive to some young people.
“I was in Tokyo for three months for my PhD last year and I really liked it, so I’m considering going there next year,” Friedrich, a 29-year-old law student from Hamburg, told DW. Still, he insists it’s not about the money. “There’s a good market for young lawyers in Germany so it’s not for better opportunities or anything like that, but I really liked a different way of living. It was a little more peaceful, a little more sanitized.” He adds: “But in general, I might also consider living in Vienna or London or Paris.”
When it comes to the economy, Germany remains the world’s third largest economy by nominal GDP, behind only the United States and China. So where are these young Germans going? According to the 2024 Destatis poll, Switzerland is in the top position, followed by Austria. Austria’s capital, Vienna, consistently ranks among the world’s most liveable cities due to its reliable public services and high quality of life. In Mercer’s 2024 Quality of Life Survey, the city ranked second in the world, Trailing only Zurich. Other countries with cities on the list include the United States, Spain and France.
Caspar Ten Half is studying Latin and music to become a teacher. He told DW that he could connect with other young people who are attracted to countries like Austria and Switzerland and that people with a migration background “no longer feel welcome because parties like the AfD have become stronger.” Ten Half feels that inequality between social classes has become a growing problem in Germany and hopes for positive change.
He says, “In Germany we have a huge gap between rich and poor. We have a lot of taxes on ordinary workers, but not on the wealth that rich people inherit from their ancestors.” “We really need higher taxes on the rich and to support these workers delivering packages or working in hospitals.” For now, he plans to stay in the country after completing his studies.