Young Africans are more optimistic about their countries, economies and continent than at any time since the Covid-19 pandemic, but they are demanding jobs, cleaner government and a form of democracy suited to African conditions, a large new survey suggests.
The 2026 African Youth Survey, published on Wednesday, found that 47% of young people said their country was heading in the right direction, up from 30% in 2024. Some 45% said the same of their national economy, compared with 26% two years ago. The figures cover the eight countries polled in every round of the survey since 2020.
The survey was commissioned by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and conducted by the research firm PSB Insights, which interviewed 4,901 people aged 18 to 24 across 16 African countries in March. The foundation was set up by the South African businessman Ivor Ichikowitz, founder of the defence and aerospace company Paramount Group, and has run the survey since 2020.
Despite the improved mood, respondents identified the rising cost of living as the development that had affected Africa most over the past five years. Asked what the continent most needed to progress, they put creating well-paid jobs first, at 27%, closely followed by reducing government corruption at 25%.
Ivor Ichikowitz said the optimism should not be mistaken for satisfaction. “It is not a vote of confidence in the status quo. It is a warning,” he said, adding that young Africans were “no longer prepared to confuse hope with patience” while struggling with unemployment, corruption and the cost of living.
On democracy, the survey found continued strong support, with 73% saying it was always preferable to other forms of government. But 56% said Western-style democracy was not suited to Africa and that a new African model was needed, prioritising national unity, regular elections and leaders who deliver jobs and services. Ichikowitz said this was a rejection of imported institutions that failed to deliver, rather than of democracy itself.
The findings also pointed to a pragmatic view of global powers. The United States and China were seen as the most influential external actors, cited by 81% and 79% respectively, though China’s influence was viewed more favourably by those who saw it. On US policy, 52% said their leaders should find a way to work with President Donald Trump despite differences, while 46% said the dismantling of the USAID aid agency would harm their country, particularly in healthcare.
The survey suggested a generation confident of its influence but frustrated with leaders. While 84% believed young people could shape political decisions over the next five years, 76% said leaders were out of touch with their needs. There was strong support for reforms such as creating a minister for youth and setting age limits for presidents.
On security, 56% said governments should prioritise creating jobs for young people over military spending or anti-corruption measures, with unemployment and poverty seen as the biggest threats to community safety.
The national picture varied sharply. Rwanda recorded the highest confidence, with 91% saying the country was moving in the right direction, and Somalia also returned strongly positive results. By contrast, young people in Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Chad and Nigeria were among the most pessimistic.
The 2026 survey was carried out 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.
