OBJECTIVES: To obtain population based data on the prevalence of allergies and to provide insight into allergy care and perceptions. METHODS: A random representative sample of the German population (>18 years) was recruited for a telephone survey in 2012. Descriptive data were stratified by criteria relevant for health-service research as age, sex, geographical region insurance status. RESULTS: For 51% of the n=1.004 respondents the topic “allergy” was personally relevant. One third of all respondents (33%) rated a physician-diagnosed allergy. Prevalence was higher in women (39%) than in men (27%) and in persons with higher educational level (39% vs. 33% lowest level). The most common allergen (43%) was pollen; 15% reported to have contact dermatitis (women 21%, men 5%). The majority of allergic persons (53%) felt (highly) burdened and 48% were limited in their daily activities due to symptoms. 70% have ever seen a physician or other therapist for their allergy (East: 62%, West 72%); GPs (45%) and dermatologists (41%) were consulted mainly. Self-medication was frequent among allergic persons (58%); it was most prevalent in the highest income and education groups as well as in West Germany. Medical treatment of acute symptoms was reported by 21% of the respondents. Regarding allergy perception, 39% appraised allergies as “easily treatable”; this opinion was more prevalent in women and in privately insured persons. In an open question on potential allergy triggers environmental factors were mentioned most often (26%), chemical agents CONCLUSIONS: About one-third of the German general adult population is affected by allergies and constricted by acute symptoms. There is evidence for need of improvement concerning awareness and appraisal of allergies - which are not distributed evenly over social groups. In particular, there is a gap of using adequate medical treatment of acute symptoms.