2025-11-30 18:11
publication
2025-11-30 18:11
37 percent respondents indicated that their last visit to Germany was of a tourist nature; this is an increase of 6 percentage points. compared to the 2016 study – according to the CBOS study. 22 percent respondents went beyond the Oder to visit family or friends, which means a decrease by 10 percentage points.
The Internet is dethroning television and the press
CBOS asked respondents in the study, among others: about where, above all, they get their knowledge about Germany and Germans.
The most popular source of knowledge about our western neighbors is the Internet – this answer was given by 59 percent. subjects. Television programs came second, with 57 respondents gaining knowledge from them. Next, respondents point to conversations with family – 27%. and with friends – 25 percent Respondents mention their own stays in Germany slightly less often – 19%. as well as other media – newspapers and magazines – 18 percent. and radio broadcasts – 16 percent Direct contacts with Germans are a source of information for 13 percent. subjects.
CBOS points out that, compared to previous measurements, the importance of newspapers and magazines as sources of knowledge about Germans and Germany is systematically decreasing (a decrease of 13 percentage points compared to 2016). As noted by the pollster, the role of television programs has also decreased (decrease by 11 percentage points), which during the previous survey were the basic source of knowledge about our western neighbors. However, the importance of the Internet (by 16 percentage points compared to the previous survey), books (an increase of 5 percentage points) and own stays in Germany (an increase of 3 percentage points) increased the most.
Record mobility: Half of us were with our neighbors
Respondents were also asked whether they had been in Germany after 1989. 50 percent respondents answered “yes”. CBOS noted that compared to the last measurement, this is an increase of 10 percentage points. “For the first time in the history of our measurements, the percentage of people who went to Germany after 1989 and those who did not have such an opportunity is identical,” the study emphasized.
Among the respondents who declared that they went to Germany after 1989, 13 percent indicated that this departure took place in 2003, i.e. before Poland joined the European Union. After accession, the frequency of emigration did not change significantly – in the years 2004–2010, 12 percent went to Germany. respondents. “The greatest intensity of visits by Poles to Germany is observed around 2020 – in total, over half of respondents (51%) indicate this year or later years as the date of their last stay in Germany,” we read in the study.
Tourism wins over work and family
CBOS also asked Poles what was their main reason for their last visit to Germany.
Most often, these are tourist trips, this answer was given by 37%. subjects. Next, respondents indicated trips to visit family or friends – 22%. In third place, respondents indicate stays for work purposes – 18 percent, followed by business trips – 9 percent. Other types of visits to Germany (the purpose of which are: shopping, education, sports or cultural events) are mentioned much less frequently by respondents – less than 5%. indications.
CBOS noted that compared to the study carried out in 2016, the number of tourist trips increased (by 6 percentage points), as well as economic trips – permanent or seasonal (by 2 percentage points). Poles, however, travel less often to visit family and friends (a decrease of 10 percentage points).
Who travels the most? Young people from big cities
According to the study, men are more likely to emigrate to Germany after 1989 – 58%. than women – 42 percent People aged 25-34 also travel abroad more often than average – 60%. and residents of the largest cities – 63 percent.
CBOS also pointed out that, paradoxically, work trips were the most common category of Poles' trips to Germany even before Poland's accession to the EU, and after 2004 they remained an important category, but in terms of frequency they gave way to both tourist trips and trips to visit family or friends. “This should be associated with an increase in the total number of visits by Poles to Germany and a greater diversity of types of trips abroad,” the study explained.
The CBOS survey was conducted as part of the mixed-mode procedure on a representative sample of adult Polish residents, drawn from the PESEL register. The study was carried out from October 2 to 13, 2025 on a sample of 901 people (including: 61.2 percent using the CAPI method, 22.5 percent – CATI and 16.3 percent – CAWI). (PAP)
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