Half of the world’s population is under 30. Yet, young people are still overwhelmingly underrepresented in politics, from parliaments to local governments. The barriers limiting young people’s involvement in public affairs are multiple and systemic: constitutional restrictions, political instability, lack of interest in youth development, poor civic education, vague youth-focused policies, limited leadership and/or technical skills, and human rights abuses are all challenges preventing young people from engaging in democratic processes.
Despite barriers to participation, civic movements and individual activists have played an increasingly important role in driving democratic processes during the last decade. Informal civic activism has been intensifying across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, and youth are an active part of these movements, demonstrating assertive citizenship. Among other positive examples, we recently saw this in Serbia, where young Serbs are rejecting the narrative that emigration is the only way to have any chance at a better life, calling for systemic reforms to ensure accountability and prevent further tragedies similar to the canopy collapse at the Novi Sad station in November 2024.
At the institutional level, young people struggle to be taken seriously by established politicians, with important consequences for the state of democracy, which indeed cannot be a true democracy if it is not inclusive of its young citizens. Young people often navigate systems created for and by adults and are called to provide contributions only when elders see it as needed or beneficial. The limited opportunities for youth engagement that exist are often not institutionalised or do not allow youth to shape decision-making processes. For instance, in many countries, young people cannot run for political office due to age restrictions.
How can we make sense of the data available to transform it into meaningful action?
The European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) is pleased to announce that the Global Youth Participation Index (GYPI) will be officially launched on 18 June 2025.
This groundbreaking tool connects the dots between global data and the lived realities behind the numbers, offering a powerful insight into youth political participation across the world. From civic engagement to electoral inclusion, this new index provides a comprehensive overview of where and how young people are shaping democracy through data through several dimensions:
- Youth Socio-Economic dimension: focused on factors that impact youth participation, including access to education, the level of democracy, and youth unemployment rates;
- Civic Space dimension: aimed at better understanding young people’s involvement and engagement in civil society, including through digital means, as well as their engagement with social movements aimed at strengthening the youth voice;
- Political Affairs dimension: focused on youth engagement and representation in parliaments, political parties, and local governments;
- Elections dimension: focused on better understanding youth access to and use of the ballot box.
Against this backdrop, the GYPI aspires to become a vital resource for a deeper understanding of youth engagement trends in over 130 countries.
To mark the launch, EPD will organise an evening of insight and inspiration – featuring a dynamic presentation of the index, a powerful photo exhibition and a chance to connect over drinks with fellow advocates for democracy.
When: 18 June
Where: Brussels
