The German federal elections held on Sunday, February 23, 2025, have revealed some telling facts about the country’s electoral landscape. Besides the record-high voter turnout, the voting was characterized by marked differences in preferences based on age and gender, with the most striking pattern emerging among Gen Z youth (those under 21 years old).
The fact that voter turnout reached 83% of nearly 60 million eligible voters, the highest since German reunification in 1990, reflects a renewed interest in the country’s political future, driven by a campaign marked by economic uncertainty, the immigration debate, and the climate crisis.
One of the most striking aspects of this election has been the generational divide in voting preferences. While older voters have overwhelmingly supported the CDU/CSU, younger voters have chosen the more populist options, both on the left and on the right.
Among those under 30, Die Linke captured 25% of the vote, followed by the AfD with 20%. The CDU/CSU, SPD, and Greens were much less favoured by this group, each receiving less than 15% of the vote. In the 30 to 44-year-old demographic, the AfD achieved its best result with 26%, while the CDU/CSU garnered between 20% and 22%. The SPD and Die Linke fell below 13% in this category.
In the 45-59-year-old cohort, the CDU/CSU regained strength with 30%-32%, followed by the AfD with 20%-22%. Among voters over 60, the CDU/CSU consolidated its leadership with 38%-43%, while the SPD obtained 23%-24%. This age group played a decisive role in the CSU victory, demonstrating a preference of older adults for stability and political continuity.
The gender gap was also a key factor in this election. While men largely favored right-wing parties, with 30% support for the CDU/CSU and 23% for the AfD, women distributed their votes more proportionally. The CDU/CSU remained the number one choice among female voters with 27%, followed by the SPD and AfD, each with 17%.
However, it is within the Gen Z cohort that the most significant ideological divergence between the two genders can be observed. While young men leaned toward AfD (25%) and CDU/CSU (15%), women of the same age preferred Die Linke (30%) and the Greens (20%).
This phenomenon reflects a trend in Western democracies, where young women tend to align in large numbers with progressive stances on issues such as feminism, social justice, and climate change. Social media has played a crucial role in this development, becoming a platform where left-wing narratives resonate strongly with younger female voters. In contrast, young men appear more receptive to a nationalist and security-focused discourse, explaining the rise of the AfD within this group.
AfD’s support was concentrated in rural areas and East Germany, particularly among working-class voters, where it secured 38% of the vote. The CDU/CSU and SPD retained retirees, with 39% and 24% voting for the two establishment parties, respectively.
Regarding key voting issues, immigration was a decisive factor in AfD’s growth, while social security was crucial for the SPD and Die Linke.
