German doctors and the police enjoy the highest respect in Germany: 81% of Germans have a great deal of trust in them, just like a year ago.
This is the result of the so-called “Institutional Ranking” conducted by Forsa for the “Stern”, RTL, and ntv. The Federal Constitutional Court takes third place, with a trust value of 78%, a four-percentage-point increase from 2023 and the largest increase in esteem.
Universities and courts follow, with 75% and 70% trust, respectively, a two-percentage-point increase and a one-percentage-point decrease.
The Germans have the least trust in social media and advertising agencies, with only 3% trust in each. Low esteem is also seen in the Islam and the Catholic Church, with 6% and 11% trust, respectively.
The five worst-rated institutions, among the 36 surveyed, also include political parties, with only 15% of Germans trusting them. This is a two-percentage-point increase from the previous year, but in the long-term comparison, the trust loss is undeniable: since 2020, the value has dropped by 10 percentage points.
The data were collected by the market and opinion research institute Forsa between December 6 and 13, 2024, by telephone. The sample size was 4,004 respondents.