Information about the study
“Living in Germany” is a long-term study that examines processes of change in society. Every year, more than 30,000 people are surveyed about their living situations and attitudes. The study has been ongoing since 1984 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and Germany’s state governments.
Do you have any questions?
infas Institut für angewandte
Sozialwissenschaft GmbH
Postfach 240101
53154 Bonn
Phone 0800/66 77 876
LiD@infas.de
Have you moved?
Please call or send us an e-mail.
Go to our online address portal
Results
Researchers are constantly analyzing data from the study “Living in Germany,” which is known in the media and in the research community as the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). Here you’ll find an overview of more results.
Employment increases with length of stay
Various challenges hinder refugee’s labor market integration
Ukrainian refugees: high psychological strain
Symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders: Women and younger people particularly affected
Lack of childcare hinders employment
Ukrainian refugees still face a number of obstacles on the labor market
How are immigrants doing in Germany?
Since the beginning of the “Living in Germany” study, people who have immigrated to Germany have also been surveyed. Since last year, this has also included refugees from Ukraine. Most of them feel welcome in this country, and many have already found a job or are planning to work in Germany. Immigrants who have lived here for some time have also found their place in society. For example, more and more people who had to flee their homeland in recent years are finding jobs and spending time with Germans. They also have a good to very good knowledge of German. And that, in turn, increases their children’s educational opportunities.
We present these and other research findings on the lives of immigrants in Germany here.
“The findings from the study make social change tangible.”
Prof. Dr. Sabine Zinn, applied statistician and Acting Director of SOEP”
“As the study is independent of political parties, your data is used by expert commissions and advisory boards.”
Dr. Markus M. Grabka, Research Associate at SOEP
“Before a new question is included in the questionnaire, it is carefully tested.”
Florian Griese, Survey Manager at SOEP
“This study is so important because it gives every participant a voice.”
Ulrike Drewes, interviewer
“Through your participation in Living in Germany, we now know how the pandemic has affected people in Germany.”
Dr. Theresa Entringer, Research Associate at SOEP
“Thank you for supporting our study year after year.”
Thomas Weiß, Project Head at infas
“Your data are protected.”
Dr. Jan Goebel, Head of Data Operation and Research Data Center at SOEP
Questions & Answers
Would you like to know why you were invited to participate in “Living in Germany”? Are you interested in finding out who is running the study?
Here you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions.
Latest news on the survey
It’s that time again – our study is starting the next round and we are looking forward to having you join us again.
Dear participant,
Once again this year we would like to survey you for our “Living in Germany” study. For this purpose, an interviewer will contact you to arrange a suitable appointment.
Participation in our study is always absolutely voluntary. But it’s important to keep in mind that in order to gain a detailed and accurate picture of the diverse living situations of people in Germany, we need as many of the selected households and individuals as possible to take part.
Do you have any questions about this year’s survey or about the study in general? Please feel free to contact us. You’ll find contact details in our letters, on the back of our information brochures, and here on our website.
Your data are safe.
Without respondents’ trust in our careful handling of their personal data, the study “Living in Germany” would not be possible. For this reason, your survey responses are first anonymized, which means that all personal identifiers are permanently and completely removed from your data. This eliminates any possibility that you as an individual could ever be identified on the basis of your data or survey responses.
Anonymous. Voluntary. Protected.
“Living in Germany” is the largest social scientific study in Germany. Carrying out a study like this requires a large, interdisciplinary team.
More than 32,000 people in around 22,000 households are surveyed every year about their living situations and attitudes.
22,000 Households
More than 500 interviewers are deployed to survey the study participants.
500
Interviewers
Currently, more than 12,000 registered researchers in more than 50 countries around the world are working with the data.
12,000 Researchers
Your voice counts!
German society is evolving constantly and faces new challenges all the time. Researchers use the data from “Living in Germany” to investigate how our society is changing. The data provide a solid basis for policy decisions.
Each individual’s survey responses are important: they give voice to perspectives that might otherwise never be heard.
Every household that has participated in “Living in Germany” regularly over a period of years or even decades helps to ensure the outstanding quality of the study results.
That’s why we need you every year. Because every single voice counts.
