Next Generation Brazil is part of the British Council’s global youth Next Generation research series. 

Following Brazil’s comeback year in 2023 which was marked by the restoration of social programmes, renewed global engagement, and stronger-than-expected economic growth, 2024 presents a critical juncture. With local elections, an opposition-led Congress, G20 leadership, COP 30 and tightening economic conditions ahead, Next Generation Brazil arrives at a pivotal moment to ensure youth voices can shape the country’s next chapter of development and policy action.

Drawing on a large-scale survey of over 3,200 young people across all regions, in-depth interviews, and focus groups with marginalised communities, the report explores what matters most to Brazil’s youth.

Key Findings

• Many young Brazilians navigate precarity - poor access to education and health, limited job prospects, and persistent inequalities. While young people see education as key to opportunity, they are frustrated by systems that fail to match their ambitions or the realities of the job market.
• Inequality runs deep - particularly for Black, Indigenous, mixed-race, LGBTQIAPN+, and favela youth - limiting access to quality education, formal work, and digital tools. Yet, across divides, young people share a powerful desire for financial security, meaningful participation, and change that includes everyone.
• Many young Brazilians risk being left behind in an increasingly digital world without targeted investment in connectivity and digital skills.
• There is a growing entrepreneurial spirit - sometimes born of necessity, sometimes of innovation - and a strong sense of collective action, with young people mobilising around issues from discrimination to climate justice. 
• Climate change is already reshaping young lives - especially in Indigenous, Riverine, and favela communities. Floods, fires, and droughts hit the poorest hardest, yet these voices remain excluded from climate decisions.
• Though trust in politics remains low, civic engagement is rising, signalling a generation determined to reshape its future.