Despite the storm clouds over the eurozone, one German in two is looking to 2012 with more hope than fear, a poll published Thursday indicated.

The survey in Europe's top economy by independent opinion research institute Allensbach showed 49 per cent of the population was optimistic about the coming year compared to 17 per cent who were anxious and 26 per cent who were sceptical.

The outlook was slightly less sunny than one year ago, when 56 per cent of Germans -- a remarkably high share in the 63-year history of the poll -- said they were confident about what the year would bring.

"But compared to previous years, the current number is also quite high," Allensbach said in a statement.

"One explanation for the good mood was that the everyday life of citizens has remained largely shielded from global risks: unemployment is at the lowest level since reunification (in 1990) and the economic situation of consumers has remained steady or improved in the last few years."

It said that in 36 of the 63 years the poll was conducted, a majority of Germans were hopeful about the year ahead, although this was less common in the last two decades.

The poll was conducted among 1,828 Germans aged 16 and older between 3 and 15 December.

Germany has remained largely unscathed by the eurozone crisis engulfing debt-mired states, with joblessness at 6.4 per cent in November and economic growth for 2011 seen as reaching 3.0 percent.

However most economists expect a downturn in 2012, with the government forecasting growth of just 1.0 per cent.