About the study
Germany finds itself in a gray area – not at war, but not at peace either. This assessment by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on October 13, 2025, highlights our fragile geopolitical situation.
From February to March 2026, Sicherheitsdialog e.V., FGS Global, and the HSPV NRW commissioned a representative survey of 2,016 people to gauge perceptions of the current security situation in Germany. To obtain a comprehensive picture, we also included two key stakeholder groups: 501 business executives and 152 members of emergency services.
Crisis preparedness affects us all, but how well is Germany really prepared? This study provides a data-driven picture of the country’s perceived state of readiness. It highlights where the gap between the impact of crises and preparedness becomes apparent, where there is a willingness to act, and who the public believes is responsible. The findings are not merely a report on the current status quo; they are a call to action for policymakers, the business community, and our society.
Download the full report here.
Key findings
Crises have become ordinary.
One in three people in Germany felt personally affected by an external shock or crisis in the past 12 months. Among 18-to-34-year-olds, that figure rises to one in two. Power outages and extreme weather top the list.
Trust in national resilience is declining.
47% of respondents say Germany showed resilience 25 and 50 years ago. Only 35% say the same about the past three years. Resilience is rated more positively at the local and state level than at the national level – but the overall picture is one of growing concern.
Awareness has outpaced action.
54% rate their own crisis preparedness as neutral or poor, and 42% are unsure whether they could manage an unexpected crisis. Around half have taken initial steps – stockpiling supplies, preparing for heating failures – but many remain exposed. The gap between knowing something should be done and knowing what to do is the central challenge the data reveals.
People are waiting for leadership.
58% say the federal government should do more to strengthen resilience. State governments follow at 47%, municipalities at 37%. Only 30% see themselves as equally responsible, and 22% point to business and industry. When asked what would help, respondents named practical preparedness tools, financial support, and information as their top three needs – in that order.
The data is not a mere update on the status quo. It is a mandate – for policymakers to set clear priorities, for businesses to understand resilience as a strategic responsibility, and for civil society to combine self-reliance with solidarity.
How we can help
The Resilience Index documents a gap between exposure and preparedness that has real consequences for organizations, institutions, and the people who lead them. Closing that gap requires more than awareness. It requires strategy.
FGS Global works with companies, public institutions, and associations at the intersection where this challenge becomes concrete – where resilience is not a policy aspiration but an operational and reputational reality.
For companies and boards: The data signals a shift in stakeholder expectations – employees, customers, and investors are increasingly asking whether organizations are prepared for disruption. We help boards and leadership teams assess their resilience posture, develop crisis preparedness frameworks, and communicate their approach with credibility. When a crisis does occur, we provide immediate counsel on response strategy, stakeholder management, and reputational recovery.
For public affairs and policy engagement: The legislative and regulatory environment around resilience and security is changing rapidly – from civil defense obligations to critical infrastructure requirements. We help organizations map the policy landscape, identify the right moments to engage, and build the institutional relationships that allow them to shape, not just react to, emerging frameworks.
For communications and reputation: Public trust is built before a crisis, not during one. We help organizations develop communications strategies that demonstrate preparedness, build resilience into their reputation, and position leadership credibly on security and societal responsibility – areas that have moved decisively from the periphery to the center of the public agenda.
Get in touch with our Resilience Index experts: resilienz-index@fgsglobal.com
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Download the full report
Read the full findings. Then act on them.
