Right-wing extremists remain the greatest threat to German democracy and their number increased significantly to 58,700 last year, the country’s domestic intelligence service says.

That number is an increase of more than 8,000 on the previous year, the agency says in its annual report, adding that extreme left-wing violence is also on the rise and is an alarm-call for Germany’s rule of law.

German democracy was under “practically permanent attack” from both inside and outside, said Sinan Selen, the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV).

Intelligence activities against Germany originated primarily from Russia, China and Iran, it said.

Of the right-wing extremists identified by the BfV, 5,600 were estimated to have a propensity for violence.

The agency said the increase in the number of right-wing extremists was largely due to the growth of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, whose membership grew to 70,000 in 2025.

The AfD is due to hold its party conference in the eastern city of Erfurt at the weekend and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned of potential violence during protests against the event. Protests must always remain non-violent, he said.

The AfD came second in federal elections last year, winning a record 152 seats in the 630-seat parliament with 20.8% of the vote.

The party is polling at about 40% ahead of elections in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt in September. This could be enough for an overall majority, meaning the party could form its first state-level government.

Far-right groups are increasingly focusing on influencing children and young people, and are recruiting new members at far-right music shows that also reached a record number last year, the BfV report said.