• Complaints of racist discrimination in Germany have tripled since 2019.
• Over 3,800 cases of racism reported in 2024, with many instances tied to public institutions.
• Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency calls for urgent legal reforms to combat discrimination.
• Women and migrants face significant challenges, including workplace harassment and racial hostility.
• A growing awareness and willingness to report discrimination is noted by officials.

Germany is grappling with a significant rise in racist discrimination complaints, with the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency documenting a record 11,405 complaints in 2024, a staggering increase from just 1,167 in 2019. This trend signals urgent issues of safety and equality, as noted by commissioner Ferda Ataman, who remarked, “We have a serious racism problem... Millions of people are more concerned about their safety than ever before,” according to aa and trtglobal.

Among the complaints, 3,858 were directly related to instances of racism, antisemitism, or ethnic origin, illustrating a grim reality across various life aspects. More than 3,000 cases were tied to workplace discrimination, while hundreds involve public institutions—indicating that discrimination permeates deeply into German society, according to indiatimes, aa, and trtglobal.

The report highlights that 43% of complaints filed under Germany’s General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) were due to racism or ethnic origin. Ataman pointed out that over 2,300 complaints fell outside the AGG’s current protective scope, suggesting a significant gap in safeguarding against discrimination by state entities, as reported by indiatimes, aa, and trtglobal.

Discrimination in gender has also surged, with 2,133 cases reported in 2024—pointing to a systemic issue affecting not just racial minorities but also women and individuals with disabilities. Women in the workforce frequently experience significant barriers and harassment, with reports detailing workplace sexual harassment and inequities in pay, according to indiatimes and trtglobal.

Ataman stressed the critical need for legal reforms in the AGG, which was passed nearly twenty years ago and remains outdated, stating, “Currently, people are better protected against discrimination in supermarkets than at schools or government offices,” according to aa and indiatimes.