Trust is an essential basis for social coexistence. Currently, a small majority of the population trusts most of their fellow citizens. At 60 per cent, the proportion of people under the age of 35 is higher than that of older generations, of whom only around one in two express trust in their fellow citizens. A look at the development over the years shows a changing dynamic. In 2000, the proportion was just 36 per cent and rose steadily to a high of 60 per cent by 2019. This was followed by a decline to 45 per cent in 2022, before the figure recovered to its current level of 54 per cent.

Respect, justice and freedom are among the core values of German society. These three principles embody the population's desire for harmonious, fair and self-determined coexistence.

Commitment is not a question of circumstances, but of will. In a world that is constantly changing, the courage to engage with others can become one of the most important skills in the coming years.

What parents want to pass on to their children today has changed noticeably in recent years. While discipline and obedience used to play an important role, values such as responsibility, honesty, health and environmental awareness now take centre stage.

The world is changing - and so are our worries. While many fears in interpersonal interactions have decreased over the last 25 years, there is an exciting generation gap: Young people under 35 are more relaxed about many challenges than the 55+ generation. Why is this the case?

Travelling will remain a central part of many people's lives in the future. At the same time, however, there is a growing awareness of the challenges facing tourism, such as flight shaming, the boom in private accommodation and the problem of overtourism.

East Germans favour holiday destinations such as the coasts in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the holiday regions in Brandenburg or the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. West Germans, on the other hand, more often spend their holidays on the beaches in the west of the republic, the Black Forest or the Alps. These results illustrate how strongly travel experiences and regional differences influence the choice of holiday destination.

Around one in ten German citizens spontaneously decides on a holiday destination and books last-minute trips. Young adults are by far the most likely to react to offers at short notice, while people in all other phases of life are more likely to plan ahead.

Ten years ago, one in five citizens took more than one vacation trip. Last year, that number more than doubled. Almost one in four traveled twice, more than one in ten three times, and one in twelve even more frequently. Travel frequency increased with rising income: the proportion of those taking multiple trips was more than three times higher among higher earners than among lower earners.

The majority of Germans are looking ahead to the next twelve months with concern. 63 percent of the population express fears and uncertainties, while only 37 percent are optimistic about the future. Differences emerge between various population groups: women are more pessimistic about the future than men (+6 percentage points). The difference is particularly striking with regard to income: low-income earners express concerns more frequently than higher-income earners (+9 percentage points).