In Germany, one million criminal cases are pending.
Background & Context
According to the Deutscher Richterbund (German Judges Association), more than one million criminal cases were unresolved at public prosecutors’ offices at the end of 2025 — the first time the figure has crossed that threshold. This refers primarily to prosecutorial investigations that have not yet been concluded, not to one million court trials already underway.
The increase is part of a longer-term trend. Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) recorded 950,900 open investigations at the end of 2024, compared with 709,400 at the end of 2020.
For 2025, the judges’ association cites around 5.5 million newly opened cases and identifies staff shortages as a key reason for the growing backlog. It estimates that Germany is short of roughly 2,000 prosecutors and criminal-court judges.
Article Profile
Dramatization
Moderate
4/10
The article uses occasional dramatizing wording but stays mostly factual.
Moralizing
Low
3/10
The presentation largely avoids moral judgments.
Sharpening
Low
3/10
The article is nuanced and avoids confrontational sharpening.
Objectivity
High
7/10
The article is largely factual and fact-oriented.
Review Transparency
We reviewed figures from the German Judges Association and the latest official data published by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office. The nationwide figure for the end of 2025 is based on the judges’ association’s survey of Germany’s federal states; the latest official Destatis data show 950,900 open prosecutorial investigations at the end of 2024.
The headline uses “criminal cases” as shorthand and should not be understood as referring to one million court trials already in progress.
Impact Check
Does it affect you?
60% impact
The overload of criminal justice affects German citizens, as cases take longer and justice is delayed.
Security risk?
10% impact
No direct security risk for Germany, since the justice overload does not pose an immediate threat.
Historic?
75% impact
Similar justice overloads have occurred historically, indicating systemic problems.
Why is this article's headline most likely true
The statement is substantiated: According to the German Judges Association, more than one million unresolved criminal cases were pending at public prosecutors’ offices at the end of 2025. The figure of “one million” is therefore slightly rounded down.
The trend is striking: the backlog rose from around 709,000 cases at the end of 2020 to 950,900 at the end of 2024 and more than one million at the end of 2025.
This analysis is based on a journalistic report by zeit.de. The rating and context were produced with AI assistance.
AI Transparency
This analysis was produced, structured and editorially reviewed with AI-assisted systems. The rating refers to the specific statement examined and is based on the sources cited.
Methodology & AI Transparency