Lower Saxony shines: fourth place in the 2025 sympathy ranking!

Lower Saxony shines: fourth place in the 2025 sympathy ranking!

What's new in the land of meadows and waves? A recent survey by the Free University of Berlin took a close look at the likeability ratings of the federal states and brought exciting results to light. Lower Saxony performed brilliantly with 141 out of 240 possible sympathy points and secured 4th place in the ranking. Hamburg is at the top with 201 points, closely followed by Schleswig-Holstein (178 points) and Baden-Württemberg (166 points), as reported ndr.de.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania brings up the rear with just 133 points, while the eastern states of Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Thuringia also receive little love. What is particularly notable is that Berlin ends up at the bottom of the list with just 62 points.

Development of sympathies

The survey, which was carried out in September 2024, shows that northern Germans have a positive sentimental relationship with one another. Spatial proximity promotes likeability: Lower Saxony receives many points from the northern German federal states. Interestingly, East Germans rate their compatriots more positively, while West Germans mainly warm to their own federal states.

But it's not just the sympathy between the federal states that is a hot topic. Another survey by the opinion research institute Forsa reveals a growing alienation between East and West Germany - 35 years after reunification, the rifts seem to be getting deeper again. Only 35 percent of those surveyed believe that East and West Germany have largely grown together as one nation. In the East, a huge 75 percent are more likely to perceive what is divisive, reports tagesspiegel.de.

Fragile unity

The survey also shows that this negative perception has become increasingly stronger over the last few years: in 2020, 47 percent saw merging, whereas now it is only 35 percent. The perception among the younger generation is particularly alarming: in the 14 to 29 age group, only 47 percent believe that East and West have largely grown together, while 52 percent reject this view. The director of the Federal Foundation for Reprocessing, Anna Kaminsky, emphasizes the fragility of the sense of unity and the urgency of a common culture of remembrance that could ensure better understanding among sections of the population.

The question arises as to how everyday realities are related to these opinions. In Germany, around two out of three companies feel affected by slow internet. The satisfaction of cyclists is also not going well in northern Germany - a lack of safety and narrow paths cause frustration, says Lay ndr.de open.

The state of cities also appears to be under great pressure to adapt, as the analysis by Deutsche Umwelthilfe shows that cities cannot adequately withstand the extreme heat. Furthermore, passengers in local transport often complain about outdated technology, but there are also bright spots, such as the positive developments in Hamburg and Kiel.

In summary, the development of sympathy values ​​and the growing feeling of alienation show that cohesion is becoming more important. More than ever, it is necessary to build bridges and strengthen a sense of community, especially in times when old rifts are reopening.