Franklin Templeton Survey: ETFs Are Widely Known and Used in Germany – Yet Often Poorly Understood

High awareness, low confidence: Three quarters of Germans are familiar with ETFs, yet rate their knowledge at only 4.5 (6 being the worst) on the grading scale.

Limited use of growth markets: ETF investors mainly focus on global indices, despite nearly half of respondents expecting above‑average growth in emerging markets.

Low awareness of active ETFs: Only one third of ETF‑aware investors know that actively managed ETFs exist.

Frankfurt am Main, 22 April 2026 – Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are now among the most widely known investment products in Germany. Three quarters of the population say they have heard of ETFs. However, high awareness does not translate into a solid understanding. This is one of the key findings of a representative survey conducted by the opinion research institute forsa on behalf of Franklin Templeton among 1,000 adults in Germany in February 2026.

Despite their broad popularity, respondents judge their own ETF knowledge critically. On average, they rate it at 4.5 (6 being the worst) on the German grading scale – equivalent to “insufficient.” More than half (54%) describe their knowledge as inadequate, while only 12% consider it good or very good. At the same time, 61% believe that Germans, overall, invest their money too conservatively.

Differences are particularly pronounced across gender, age, and income groups. Men are significantly more likely than women to say they can explain ETFs. Younger respondents aged 18 to 34, as well as households with higher incomes, also rate their knowledge more positively.

Christian Machts, Country Head Germany and Austria at Franklin Templeton, says: “ETFs are widely accepted, but not widely understood. This gap is shaping investment behaviour in Germany today. With this survey, we wanted to better understand where investors are looking for guidance – and what is preventing them from turning existing interest into long‑term investment decisions. The challenge now is turning awareness into action.”

High interest – but ETF investing is often postponed

The survey also revealed that ETFs are fundamentally attractive to many Germans. If they had €10,000 freely available today, more than one third would invest it in ETFs – more than in any other investment option. Among experienced investors, this figure rises to nearly 60%.

In reality, however, conservative products still dominate. Around two thirds of Germans use overnight deposit accounts, and more than half rely on savings or passbook accounts. Only around three in ten respondents currently hold indexed ETFs, i.e. ETFs that track an index on a rule‑based basis. Many are aware that inaction can be a risk in itself: one third says they fear not investing their money more than experiencing a market crash. At the same time, 42% feel overwhelmed by the sheer range of ETFs available – suggesting that a lack of orientation, rather than a lack of interest, is a key barrier to investing.

Younger investors drive the shift toward ETF retirement investing

ETFs are increasingly seen as a core tool for long‑term retirement planning. Forty‑three percent of respondents consider them an important building block for retirement, and 44% believe that without securities‑based savings plans, financial constraints in later life are likely. Nevertheless, actual implementation remains cautious.

Where investors are already active, however, a clear pattern emerges: three quarters of ETF investors use savings plans. Younger investors, in particular, favour automated investing – more than 80% of those aged 18 to 34 invest via ETF saving plans.

Martin Bechtloff, Vice President ETF Sales Germany at Franklin Templeton, comments: “ETF savings plans illustrate how investment behaviour in Germany is changing. Regular investing will also play a central role in the German government’s planned retirement savings account. For many investors, this can be an important way to align long‑term wealth accumulation and private retirement provision more closely with capital markets – especially against the backdrop of growing doubts about the sole sustainability of the state pension system.”

Growth markets and new ETF concepts remain underutilised

While most ETF investors focus on broadly diversified global indices, emerging markets currently play only a minor role. This is despite the fact that nearly half of respondents expect above‑average growth in some of the major emerging markets. The main barriers cited are a lack of knowledge and geopolitical concerns.

Actively managed ETFs are also attracting growing interest, but awareness remains low. Only one third of ETF‑aware respondents know that such products exist, while one in ten indicates they may invest in them in the future.

Overall, the survey highlights that ETFs have become mainstream in Germany – but the need for guidance, information, and context remains high. A significant gap persists between awareness, interest, and actual usage.

About the survey

The representative population survey was conducted by the opinion research institute forsa on behalf of Franklin Templeton between 3 and 6 February 2026. A total of 1,009 German‑speaking adults aged 18 and over living in private households were surveyed. The study was conducted online (forsa.omninet) with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.

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With $1.68 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2026, Franklin Templeton operates globally in more than 35 countries.

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