BERLIN, March 19 (Xinhua) -- More than one in three people living in Germany believe that some human "races" are superior to others, according to a survey released on Thursday.
The study found that 36 percent of respondents agreed with the notion that there are different human "races," despite the concept being scientifically discredited. Nearly half said some groups were "naturally more hard-working" than others, while 66 percent said some cultures were "more progressive and better," the survey conducted by the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (Dezim) showed.
"When people assign less value to others than to themselves simply because of their appearance or origin. That is racist," said Federal Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Ferda Ataman, adding that the belief in human "races" was also widespread among people affected by racism.
The survey said these attitudes were reflected in reported experiences of discrimination. It found that 25 percent of Black people and 17 percent of Muslim people in Germany experienced overt discrimination, such as insults and threats, at least once a month. In the 12 months preceding the survey, 32 percent and 33 percent, respectively, reported such experiences.
More subtle forms of discrimination were even more common. Nearly two-thirds of Black respondents said they were treated unfriendly, ignored or not taken seriously at least monthly.
The study is part of the National Discrimination and Racism Monitor, which has tracked racist attitudes and experiences in Germany since 2022. This year's survey was conducted online between October 2025 and January 2026 among 8,171 people aged 20 to 74 living in Germany.
