Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has reported a significant increase in the number of far-right extremists within the country, reaching an estimated 58,700 individuals in the past year. This figure represents an increase of over 8,000 from the previous year.
According to the BfV's annual report, these right-wing extremists pose the greatest threat to German democracy. The agency estimates that 5,600 of these individuals have a propensity for violence. The report also noted a rise in extreme left-wing violence, which it described as an alarm for Germany's rule of law.
Sinan Selen, the head of the BfV, stated that German democracy is under "practically permanent attack" from both domestic and foreign sources. The report identified Russia, China, and Iran as primary sources of intelligence activities targeting Germany.
The BfV attributes the growth in right-wing extremist numbers, in part, to the increasing membership of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which reported 70,000 members in 2025. The AfD secured the second-place position in federal elections last year, winning a record 152 seats with 20.8% of the vote.
Ahead of the AfD's party conference in Erfurt this weekend, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt cautioned about the potential for violence during protests against the event, while emphasizing that protests must remain non-violent.
The AfD is currently polling at approximately 40% in advance of the September elections in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. If these numbers hold, the party could achieve an overall majority and form its first state-level government.
The intelligence agency's report also highlighted a growing focus by far-right groups on influencing children and young people, with recruitment efforts increasingly occurring at far-right music events, which reached a record number last year.