A majority of people in Germany believe everyday interactions have grown less friendly in recent years—even as they continue to view themselves as polite individuals.

According to a recent YouGov survey conducted for the language-learning app Babbel, 59% of respondents say the general tone of public interactions has become harsher compared to five years ago. Yet, in a seemingly contradictory finding, 85% still describe their own behavior as courteous.

The perception of declining manners is particularly strong among older Germans. Around 65% of respondents from the Baby Boomer generation reported a noticeable drop in civility, while only 39% of younger participants shared that view.

The survey also highlights regional contrasts. Residents of Hamburg rated their city as the most polite, whereas Bremen received the lowest marks for friendliness.

When it comes to where rudeness is most visible, traffic situations stand out by a wide margin. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of respondents identified road interactions as the primary setting for impolite behavior. In contrast, just 15% said workplaces tend to be unfriendly.

Political leanings appear to play a smaller role in shaping perceptions of politeness. Among supporters of different parties, 10% of those aligned with the Left Party reported concerns about tone, compared with 16% among backers of the conservative CDU/CSU and 15% of Social Democrat voters. The highest levels of concern were recorded among supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany and the populist-left BSW, both at 19%.

Babbel says the findings point to a growing awareness—and perhaps a desire—for better manners in daily life, especially in direct, face-to-face interactions. Photo by Immanuel Giel, Wikimedia commons.