Africa’s Youth More Optimistic Than At Any Time Since The Pandemic – But Demand Jobs And Clean Government

African Youth Survey 2026 reveals a rising generation more positive about the future than at any point since COVID-19 but pressure from the cost-of-living crisis means leaders must deliver work, accountability & democracy that reflects African realities

By Celestine Okorie, Bureau Chief, Southern Africa

Africa’s young people are more optimistic about the future of their countries, economies and the continent than at any point since the pandemic, but they are demanding jobs, cleaner government, safer communities, a stronger political voice and a model of democracy that reflects African realities, according to the 2026 African Youth Survey released today.

The latest African Youth Survey, commissioned by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and conducted by PSB Insights, interviewed 4,901 young Africans aged 18 to 24 across 16 countries in March 2026. It is the largest edition yet of the recurring survey, which was launched in 2020 to give governments, business, civil society and the media a rigorous understanding of the views of Africa’s rising generation.

Across the eight countries tracked in every wave of the survey, 47 per cent of young Africans say their own country is moving in the right direction, up from 30 per cent in 2024. Some 45 per cent say their national economy is moving in the right direction, up from 26 per cent in 2024. Across the same tracked markets, 43 per cent now say Africa is moving in the right direction, up from 37 per cent in 2024.

The rising cost of living is named as the single event or development that has had the biggest impact on Africa over the past five years, selected by 27 per cent of respondents. When asked what Africa most needs to progress, young Africans put creating new, well-paying jobs first at 27 per cent, followed closely by reducing government corruption at 25 per cent. Making it easier to start a business is selected by 16 per cent, up from 10 per cent in 2020.

The recovery is especially striking in Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia. In Ghana, positive sentiment about the country’s direction has risen by 51 percentage points since 2024. In Ethiopia, concern about employment has fallen by 44 percentage points while positive sentiment about country direction has risen by 44 percentage points. In Zambia, concern about employment has fallen by 41 percentage points while confidence in national direction has risen by 32 percentage points.

Founder and Commissioner of the African Youth Survey, Ivor Ichikowitz said: “Do not mistake this optimism for satisfaction. It is not a vote of confidence in the status quo. It is a warning. Young Africans still believe in this continent, but they are no longer prepared to confuse hope with patience while they struggle with the cost of living, unemployment, corruption and governments that too often talk about the future while excluding the very generation that will have to live in it.

“This is a generation that wants delivery, not slogans. It wants jobs, clean government, safety, business opportunity and a real voice in power. It is also telling the world something important: Africa’s youth are not interested in being lectured by East or West. They will judge every leader, every government and every foreign partner by the same standard. Who is helping Africa build? Who is creating work? Who is treating this continent with respect? The age of speeches without delivery is over.”

A delivery generation in a divided world

The survey finds that 70 per cent of young Africans say the world is becoming more divided and dangerous. In response, they are prioritising global partners that can deliver practical benefits. Some 55 per cent say their country should prioritise alliances with partners that are effective and can deliver benefits like trade and investment, regardless of their system of government, while 42% say their country should prioritise alliances with countries that share similar values and systems of government even if they are less effective at delivering tangible benefits.

When asked what should matter most in choosing an international ally, the leading answer is the ability to invest in infrastructure and the economy, selected by 43 per cent. This is followed by respect for natural resources at 39 per cent, democratic values and a strong human rights record at 34 per cent, sovereignty and non-interference at 34 per cent, access to advanced technology and knowledge transfer at 30 per cent and military and security support at 29 per cent.

The United States and China remain the two most influential external powers in the eyes of young Africans. US influence is now seen by 81 per cent of respondents, while China is seen by 79 per cent. However, China’s influence is viewed more warmly among those who see it, with 95 per cent describing it as positive compared with 85 per cent for the United States. The UK’s perceived influence stands at 63 per cent, Russia’s at 54 per cent, France’s at 47 per cent and India’s at 45 per cent.

The findings also show that young Africans are approaching the Trump era pragmatically rather than ideologically. While 52 per cent say their leaders should find a way to work with President Trump despite differences, 46 per cent say the dismantling of USAID as an independent foreign assistance agency will have a negative impact on their country, especially in healthcare services and disease prevention.

Democracy on African terms

The 2026 survey finds that young Africans continue to support democracy, but not uncritically. Some 73 per cent say democracy is always preferable to any other kind of government. Clear majorities reject one-party rule and unchecked presidential authority, while equal treatment before the law, free and fair elections and freedom of speech remain core democratic priorities.

At the same time, 56 per cent say Western-style democracy is not suitable for Africa and that a new form of African-style democracy is needed. When asked what matters most in such a model, young Africans prioritise national unity and stability at 48 per cent, regular free and fair elections at 46 per cent, leaders who deliver jobs and services at 43 per cent and community decision-making at 36 per cent.

Mr Ichikowitz added: “The call for African-style democracy should not be misunderstood as a rejection of democracy but rather as a rejection of a Western model that too often fails to meet African realities. Young Africans still strongly support equality before the law, elections and freedom of speech. What they reject is the idea that democracy can be reduced to imported institutions that do not deliver dignity, opportunity and accountability in African conditions, and therefore why a new African model for democracy is needed.”

“Perhaps the most important lesson is that African youth do not see a contradiction between democracy and delivery. They want both. They want freedom and opportunity. They want accountability and effectiveness. They want elections and economic progress.”

Youth want real power, not symbolic inclusion

Some 70 per cent of young Africans agree that their voice matters to national leaders and 84 per cent are confident that young people can meaningfully influence political decision-making over the next five years. Yet 76 per cent also say leaders are out of touch with the needs and aspirations of young people.

The findings reveal a generation that believes it can shape politics, but does not believe current leaders fully understand it. That creates an opportunity for governments that take youth seriously and a warning for those that treat young people only as voters, campaign audiences or beneficiaries of policy. Support is strong for reforms that would give young people a greater role in government, including the creation of a Minister for Youth and age limits for presidents and prime ministers.

Security starts with jobs

While 70 per cent of young Africans say they feel safe in their country today and satisfaction with police and security services has risen to its highest level since the survey began, only around a quarter are very satisfied. Unemployment and poverty are seen as the biggest threats to safety in local communities, selected by 54 per cent, ahead of drugs and alcohol abuse, corruption in security services, violent crime and domestic violence.

Asked what governments should prioritise to improve security, 56 per cent choose job creation for young people, ahead of military investment at 35 per cent and anti-corruption measures at 33 per cent. The finding reinforces one of the central messages of the survey: for Africa’s youth, employment is not only an economic issue, but also a security, governance and stability issue.

Ichikowitz concluded: “Young Africans understand something many policymakers still overlook – prosperity is one of the most powerful forms of security. For them, unemployment and poverty are not simply economic challenges. They are security challenges. They are governance challenges. They are stability challenges. This finding should reshape how we think about security policy.”

A sharply varied continental picture

The country-level picture is sharply varied. Rwanda records the strongest confidence in national direction, with 91 per cent saying the country is moving in the right direction, as well as the highest safety figure, with 99 per cent saying they feel safe. Somalia is one of the survey’s most striking positive-surprise stories, with 82 per cent saying Somalia is moving in the right direction, 79 per cent saying the national economy is moving in the right direction and 89 per cent saying they are optimistic or excited about the future of their country.

Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia record major rebounds in confidence since 2024. By contrast, youth in Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Chad and Nigeria are among the most pessimistic about national direction, the economy, security or the wider global outlook. Kenya and South Africa are also among the most negative about Africa’s direction overall, with 70 per cent of Kenyan youth and 69 per cent of South African youth saying the continent is moving in the wrong direction.

The 2026 African Youth Survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews in Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Further Key African Youth Survey 2026 data:

60 per cent say their country should build strong alliances with one or two major global powers to secure long-term benefits, while 37 per cent prefer neutrality.

When choosing international allies, 43 per cent prioritise infrastructure and economic investment, followed by respect for natural resources at 39 per cent, democratic values and human rights at 34 per cent, sovereignty and non-interference at 34 per cent, technology transfer at 30 per cent and military and security support at 29 per cent.

72 per cent are concerned about asylum and immigration, while 57 per cent are satisfied with their government’s efforts to limit illegal immigration.

80 per cent worry about human trafficking, 79 per cent about the smuggling of drugs or weapons and 78 per cent about armed groups crossing borders.

Concern about illegal migration is highest in Ghana at 91 per cent, Mozambique at 90 per cent and Liberia and South Africa at 88 per cent.

68 per cent believe their country would be better governed if more women held senior positions in government, while 65 per cent support reserving a set number of government positions for women.

Only 22 per cent are familiar with AfCFTA, but among those familiar with it, 69 per cent are optimistic about its economic impact.

80 per cent agree that the UN Security Council needs to be reformed to include permanent African representation.