Overview

• A representative Freie Universität Berlin survey of 1,630 adults found Berliners at the bottom of nationwide sympathy ratings by state.
• Hamburg residents topped the list, with Schleswig-Holstein and Baden-Württemberg following in second and third place.
• The results show a marked East–West divide, with Saxony-Anhalt second from last and Saxony third from last.
• Political scientist Achim Hildebrandt linked Berlin’s image to its role as the seat of government and the 'failed state' cliché.
• The study measured perceptions rather than behavior, and responses were weighted to be representative by age, gender, education, and federal state.