Civic engagement among young adults in Europe is on the rise
Democracy depends on a strong civil society. The new Allianz Foundation study shows that young people in Europe want to have their say and help shape the future. More than half are already active on an individual level – and collective civic action has also grown since the first survey two years ago. Today, over 30 percent take part in citizens’ initiatives or social movements, though they often encounter political pushback – sometimes even from their peers.
These and many other findings will be released on 25 November 2025, when the Allianz Foundation will launch the second edition of its research series on youth and young adults in Europe. Drawing on a representative survey of more than 8,500 respondents aged 16 to 39 in France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain, the study examines three urgent questions:
- What kind of future society do young Europeans want to live in?
- What is the risk of backlash against the current political order?
- How are young Europeans translating their ideals into civic action today?
The aim of the research is to provide European civil society and policymakers with robust insights into future visions and political actions of young Europeans. The study was co-designed with leading scholars as well as civil society organizations in the five countries under study.