1. Key findings from the NaDiRa Monitoring Report 2026
The 2026 monitoring report of the National Discrimination and Racism Monitor (NaDiRa) paints a clear picture: racist attitudes in Germany remain widespread and deeply rooted. The report finds that more than one third of the population believes in natural or innate differences between ethnic groups. It documents frequent experiences of discrimination, with a notable share of people who are racially marked facing open and repeated mistreatment. At the same time, the report highlights a widespread pattern of subtler forms of discrimination that affect even larger numbers of people. Overall, these patterns are linked to a substantial loss of trust in state institutions among those affected.
Racist attitudes in the population
NaDiRa 2026 shows that harmful beliefs about inherent differences between ethnic groups are common. When more than a third of the population accepts such narratives, discriminatory behaviour and exclusion can become normalized, affecting everyday interactions and decisions across society.
Key statistics at a glance
- Over one third of people in Germany believe in natural differences between ethnic groups.
- 25% of Black people report being openly discriminated against at least monthly.
- 17% of Muslim people report being openly discriminated against at least monthly.
- Subtle discrimination experiences are even more common than open incidents.
- 73% of racially marked people reported discrimination in the past twelve months.
- Trust in state institutions has fallen significantly for many racially marked groups; for Muslim respondents the decline can be as much as 27 percentage points.
2. Who is affected?
The NaDiRa report draws attention to groups who are particularly affected by racism and discrimination in Germany. While racist attitudes exist broadly in the population, their consequences are not evenly distributed: some groups experience frequent open discrimination as well as pervasive subtle exclusion in everyday life.
Groups highlighted by the report
Among the groups described, Black people and Muslim people stand out for the frequency of openly reported discrimination. The report documents monthly rates of open discrimination of 25% for Black respondents and 17% for Muslim respondents. These figures illustrate the acute and repeated nature of the problem for many individuals.
- Black people: 25% report at least monthly open discrimination.
- Muslim people: 17% report at least monthly open discrimination.
- Many more people report subtle everyday discrimination, which the report finds to be widespread.
3. Forms of discrimination: open and subtle
The report distinguishes between overt, open acts of discrimination and more subtle, everyday experiences. Both forms damage individual wellbeing and social inclusion, but subtle discrimination can be harder to measure and address precisely because it is less visible and more pervasive.
| Group | Open discrimination (at least monthly) | Subtle discrimination |
|---|---|---|
| Black people | 25% | Reported to be even more frequent than open incidents |
| Muslim people | 17% | Reported to be even more frequent than open incidents |
How frequency is presented
NaDiRa provides concrete monthly rates for open discrimination experienced by specific groups and stresses that subtle discrimination occurs even more widely. Together these observations show a layered problem: visible incidents coexist with everyday exclusion, creating cumulative harm.
4. Impact on trust in institutions
A central concern of the NaDiRa report is the erosion of trust in public institutions among people who are racially marked. Experiences of discrimination—both open and subtle—contribute to a fragile and declining confidence in the bodies that are supposed to serve and protect everyone equally.
Evidence of trust loss
- 73% of racially marked people reported discrimination in the previous twelve months, indicating frequent negative interactions.
- The report documents sizeable declines in institutional trust, with Muslim respondents showing drops of up to 27 percentage points in their trust in institutions.
These numbers signal a problem that goes beyond individual incidents: widespread discrimination weakens the relationship between state institutions and the people they serve. When large shares of the population feel excluded or mistreated, confidence in public systems and social cohesion are at risk.
5. What the findings mean
The NaDiRa 2026 findings make clear that racism in Germany is not only about isolated acts, but about entrenched devaluations and fragile trust. The prevalence of both open and subtle discrimination, combined with measurable drops in institutional trust, points to a societal challenge that affects people’s daily lives and their relationship with public institutions.
Key messages to take away
- Racist attitudes remain widespread: more than one third of the population endorses ideas of natural differences between ethnic groups.
- Open discrimination is frequent for some groups: 25% of Black people and 17% of Muslim people report monthly open incidents.
- Subtle discrimination is even more common and adds to the cumulative harm experienced by racially marked people.
- High rates of reported discrimination correspond with major losses of trust in state institutions; for Muslim respondents this loss can reach 27 percentage points.
Recognizing the scale and depth of these issues is the first step. The NaDiRa 2026 report provides important, measurable evidence that can inform public discussion and encourage continued monitoring of discrimination and institutional trust in Germany.
