No matter how old, a majority of Berliners are concerned about their potential need for care later in life. This is one of the results of the "Berlin Survey 2026". At the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Michaela Kreyenfeldt and Paul Gellert, directors of the Einstein Center Population Diversity, presented the first results of the representative survey at a panel event on Monday, 7 September, 2027. Policy implications were then discussed with Berlin's Senator for science, health and care, Ina Czyborra.
Notably, even among young people, a majority has concerns about care later in life. A majority of 59% of respondents aged 18 to 29 said either that they "worry somewhat" or "worry a lot" about their potential need for care in older age.
The survey reflects the opinions of a population of a major European city (nearly 4 million) that is subject to demographic change. Its results are presented as Berlin prepares for elections on 20 September. With Berlin being one of the 16 states of Germany, these elections have implications for policy in the entire country.
Further key findings of the survey:
- Housing is by far the biggest challenge: More than 70 percent of respondents rate
the housing situation in Berlin as very problematic. - These concerns cut across all age groups, districts, and socioeconomic classes. However, some
groups stand out: Concerns are particularly high among younger Berliners (ages 18–29). Here, more than 80 percent express very serious concerns about the housing situation. - In the open responses, in addition to housing, public transportation and urban infrastructure were cited as key problems, as well as homelessness.
The Einstein Center directors spoke of the need to re-imagine the city as a place where people can have confidence that their older age will be one of care, health, connectedness, and active participation.
Senator Czyborra underlined that care is an issue that connects with many other policies, one being housing. She spoke about the positive effect of neighborhoods that are designed to lower barriers to intergenerational interaction. Markus Dröge from the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin encouraged policy to think of solutions to the situation that space for housing is scarce while a lot of office space remains unused.
Indeed housing is another concern that was raised by Berliners in the survey, with many naming it as Berlin's main policy challenge. This sentiment was confirmed by the audience discussion at the Einstein Saal of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Berlin, where audience members urged to address housing policies, especially with regards to:
- lowering barriers to housing swap and downsizing
- improving climate resilience (for days of extreme cold and heat)
- including intergenerational meeting points
Many thanks to the panel experts, to the audience for the engaged discussion, and to moderator Shelly Kupferberg.
Population Europe is a partner within the Einstein Center, covering its stakeholder outreach activities.
Over the next months, "Berlin Survey" results will be published as a briefing series called "Berlin Insights". See the first issue here (in German).