A recent nationwide survey, conducted in cooperation with the Institute for Applied Social Sciences (Infas) for the current edition of the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit”, has revealed a significant divide in opinions among Germans regarding the country’s potential acquisition of nuclear weapons.
According to the survey, a majority of the respondents, aged 18 to 24, expressed support for Germany acquiring its own nuclear weapons, with 54% of them answering “yes” to the question “Should Germany possess nuclear weapons?” In contrast, 44% of the same age group rejected the idea. Notably, this is the only age group that showed a majority in favor of Germany having its own nuclear weapons.
As the age groups increase, the percentage of those in favor of Germany acquiring nuclear weapons significantly decreases. For instance, in the 45-54 age group, 91% of the respondents rejected the idea, with only 7% in favor, while among those over 65, 74% were against and only 21% in favor.
The survey, conducted in May 2025, polled a total of 1,015 people and its results align with the official stance of the German government since the end of World War II, which has focused on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The majority of the German population, across all age groups, continues to reject the idea of Germany acquiring its own nuclear weapons, with only 21% in favor and 72% opposed.