Population: Germans clearly overestimate the percentage of migrants

Stand: 13:10 clock | Reading time: 2 minutes

DPeople in Germany clearly overestimate the proportion of migrants and Muslims in the total population. This emerges from an analysis published Wednesday by the Ipsos market research institute and opinion. The proportion of migrants, which according to the institute is 15 percent, is therefore estimated at an average of 30 percent.

Even worse is the miscalculation, according to the international survey, when it comes to the share of Muslims. According to the interviewees, every fifth German citizen is of Islamic faith, in reality, according to Ipsos, the value is only 4%.

For the international study, the institute investigated in 37 states how the perception of social realities deviates from reality. Only in seven countries the distortion of migration and issues related to Islam were greater. The pollsters explained this in the way that national media and policy discussed issues related to migration and Islam.

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In contrast, the extent of sexual harassment is underestimated by women, including women themselves. According to Ipsos, 60% of women in Germany have suffered sexual harassment since they were 15 years old.

However, respondents estimate the average rate of 37%. Interviewed women also underestimate the 40 percent rate.

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Ipsos interviewed a total of about 28,000 people between the ages of 16 and 64 for the large-scale study in September and October 2018 in 37 countries. In 21 states the results must therefore be considered representative of the total population, Germany is one of them.