Germany

We asked over 30,000 people what would help democracy work better in their country. Key themes in their responses were addressing basic needs and improving or rebuilding the political system.

Amid growing discontent with the state of democracy globally, we asked over 30,000 people what changes would make their democracy work better.

Internet use is nearly ubiquitous in Germany, but social media use is not. In fact, Germans stand out internationally for their relatively light use of social media.

The share of the public that supports authoritarian systems ranges from 85% in India to 8% in Sweden.

A 24-country survey finds a median of 59% are dissatisfied with how their democracy is functioning, and 74% think elected officials don’t care what people like them think.

Across 27 countries surveyed, people generally see social media as more of a good thing than a bad thing for democracy.

In most countries surveyed, around nine-in-ten or more adults are online. In South Korea, 99% of adults use the internet.

Across more than 20 countries surveyed, a median of 91% say being able to speak their country’s most common language is important for being considered a true national. And 81% say sharing their country’s customs and traditions is important for true belonging.

How close do people feel to others around the world? How much do they want their countries involved in international affairs? How do people’s experiences with travel and feelings of international connectedness relate to their views about the world? A recent 24-nation survey explores these questions.

Among the 32 places surveyed, support for legal same-sex marriage is highest in Sweden, where 92% of adults favor it, and lowest in Nigeria, where only 2% back it.