Next Generation research reveals the hopes, challenges and realities shaping Brazil’s youth

Data shows deep social divides among young Brazilians and contrasting levels of trust: while 69% of young people say their teachers are their most reliable source of information, 33% report having no trust in the political system.

The British Council launched Next Generation Brazil 2025 report, an unprecedented study capturing the views of more than 3,000 young people aged 16 to 35 from across all regions of Brazil. The research – the most comprehensive of its kind conducted by the organisation in the country – explores how young Brazilians see the future, covering themes ranging from identity and resilience to education, employability, culture and climate action.

“Brazil’s incredible diversity makes it complex. To really understand what young people are thinking and feeling, we need more than just numbers — we need to talk with them and listen closely”, said Tom Birtwistle, Director of the British Council in Brazil. “That’s what Next Generation Brazil is about: understanding youth from their own perspective, not just from the outside looking in. This kind of honest insight is key to shaping policies and projects that truly reflect the lives and dreams of young Brazilians and are better as a result. The British Council’s role is to bring together all constituents with a stake in these issues - governments, communities, researchers, and businesses to consider what can be done to help build a future that’s better for everyone”. 

 The study highlights stark income disparities – white youth earn around 19% above the national average in this survey, while Black youth earn 31% less. More than half of Black respondents said they live on less than one and a half minimum wages per month. And, although 56% are the main income providers in their households, four in ten said they are unable to cover basic expenses.

Education remains one of the most pressing challenges. Half of young people aged 19 to 24 neither hold a university degree nor are currently studying. Among those who did not complete secondary education, nearly two-thirds are Black or mixed-race, compared to one-third of white youth. Educational inequalities also vary geographically: while 55% of young people in major urban centres have higher education, this drops to 14% in favelas and just 10% in rural areas.

Teachers emerged as the most trusted figures: 69% of respondents identified them as their primary source of reliable information, above family, newspapers, news websites and social media. However, young people also highlighted key priorities for improving education, including better salaries and working conditions for teachers, improved teacher training, and better school facilities.

The research also identified the main challenges facing youth in the labour market: 66% said wages fall short of their expectations and basic needs, and 56% pointed to long working hours as an issue. Against this backdrop, entrepreneurship appears as a key aspiration, with 70% of respondents saying they dream of starting their own business, yet 40% identify lack of access to credit as the main barrier to achieving it.

The study paints an alarming picture of racial inequality in Brazil. Among respondents, 86% of Black youth said they had personally experienced racism, and 71% of mixed-race youth said the same. Discrimination also extends to the labour market: one in five Black respondents reported having been denied a job opportunity because of their skin colour.

For Indigenous youth, barriers to education and decent living conditions remain persistent, driven by structural inequalities and historical exclusion. Despite these challenges, many Indigenous youth take on leadership roles in their communities, defending their territories, the environment, and the right to quality education. One Indigenous respondent shared: “Public policies ensuring our permanence at universities, such as scholarships, housing and psychosocial support, are essential. We also need investment in Indigenous schools with proper infrastructure and teaching materials produced by us.”

Gender inequalities also remain evident. For 78% of young Brazilians, the country still has a deeply sexist culture, and 73% recognise that women face discrimination in the workplace. Nearly all respondents (83%) agree that domestic and caregiving responsibilities fall disproportionately on women. Even with higher levels of educations, wage disparities persist: Black cisgender women with a university degree earn 70% less than white cisgender men with equivalent qualifications.

Larissa Fontana, from Brazil’s National Youth Council (CONJUVE), explains: “Brazil continues to reinforce racial and gender stereotypes that are rarely confronted by the State. This sustains narratives that label young Black men as ‘naturally’ suspicious or dangerous, and young Black women as hypersexualised and dehumanised, valued only for labour or exploitation.”

Within the LGBTQIAPN+ community, 64% said they have been treated differently because of their sexual orientation. The main challenges reported include family rejection, violence and hate speech.

Young Brazilians’ relationship with politics is marked by distance: 33% say they do not trust any public institution. Yet this detachment should not be mistaken for apathy: 22% said they would engage more if they had greater contact with political leaders, 23% if political platforms were clearer, and 24% if schools encouraged civic participation. As Larissa adds: “It’s not a matter of disinterest. Young people care deeply about the issues that affect their lives, but the language and spaces of politics are often inaccessible or unwelcoming.”

Despite the challenges, young people express strong connections to their country. Their main sources of pride are Brazilian culture (48%), cuisine (46%), and family (45%), all seen as central pillars of belonging.

When asked what they expect from government for a better future, responses were concrete and pragmatic: expand job and internship opportunities (29%), reduce inequality and discrimination (28%), offer more practical education aligned with the job market (26%), and introduce mental health support programmes in schools (23%).

Despite inequality and barriers, Brazil’s new generation remains hopeful and resilient. The study reveals a cohort proud of its culture, creativity and diversity, eager to build a more just, inclusive and sustainable country where young people’s voices are heard and reflected in policymaking.

Research methodology

The Next Generation Brazil study, conducted by SOS Education, used a mixed-methods approach to capture an inclusive view of Brazilians aged 16 to 35. The quantitative phase involved 3,248 participants nationwide (95% confidence level, ±2% margin of error), complemented by focus groups and in-depth interviews with under-represented youth and community leaders.

Adapted from the British Council’s global Next Generation framework, the survey explored themes such as education, employment, well-being, civic engagement and climate, incorporating inclusive categories for race, gender and identity. A Youth Task Force of ten young leaders from different regions of Brazil collaborated voluntarily in all stages, from adapting the questionnaire to shaping policy recommendations.

The dissemination campaign engaged more than 1,000 NGOs, schools and universities, with partnerships including the São Paulo, Brasília, Recife and Fortaleza metro networks.
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