New IPU Report sees youth representation in parliament flatline for first time in 12 years
For the first time in over a decade, global youth representation in parliaments has shown no progress, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) biennial report, Youth participation in national parliaments. The findings come amid growing demands from young people for a greater say in political decisions.
The new IPU report reveals that the proportion of members of parliament (MPs) aged 30 or under remains at 2.8% – no change from the previous report in 2023. This marks the first time since 2014, when the IPU began tracking youth participation in politics, that progress has halted.
And over a third of parliamentary chambers worldwide (37.1%) have no MPs aged 30 or under.
The report warns that, with half the world’s population aged under 30 but so few MPs in this age group, democracy and development are at risk.
Decline in young women MPs
The situation is particularly stark for young women. The proportion of female MPs aged 30 or under has dropped to 1.2% of all parliamentarians, down from 1.4% in 2023.
Similarly, the share of women MPs aged 40 or under in parliaments has declined from 7.9% to 6.9%, although overall the proportion of MPs aged 40 and under has increased slightly by 0.2 percentage points to reach 19.2%.
Growing Gen Z dissatisfaction
The report notes that the lack of progress is especially troubling given rising levels of mobilization of young people, driven by concerns over economic insecurity and democratic accountability, as seen in recent protests around the world.
The report argues that when young people are absent from or underrepresented in parliamentary chambers, it undermines the legitimacy of these institutions and weakens public trust in democracy.
Success stories
Despite the overall stagnation, some countries are making strides, including the top three parliaments with the highest proportion of young MPs in the IPU ranking:
Armenia leads, with 16.8% of its lower chamber lawmakers aged 30 or under, exceeding the IPU’s 15% target. This achievement follows the country’s 2018 “Velvet Revolution”, which saw a surge in youth participation in politics.
In second place, Turkmenistan also stands out, with 13.9% of its MPs aged 30 or under. The country’s shift from a bicameral to a unicameral parliament may have contributed to the increase, as upper chambers often have fewer young representatives.
Ecuador’s progress, coming in third with 13.7% of MPs aged 30 or under, may be largely attributable to a 2022 law requiring 25% of electoral candidates to be young adults.
And in Senegal, although only 44th in the overall ranking, recent elections have brought a wave of younger politicians into Parliament, making it one of the top country increases compared to previous elections.
Solutions
According to the report, young MPs can bring bring fresh perspectives, digital skills and future-facing policies. But eligibility rules, biases and online aggression are among the challenges that may stop many from getting into – or remaining in – politics.
Key actions of the IPU’s I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! campaign, such as youth quotas, lowering the age of eligibility to run for office, and supporting channels into parliament like youth caucuses, are among the proven ways to increase youth participation.
The 2025 report also analyzed the effect of term limits for the first time, showing that countries with such limits have significantly higher proportions of young MPs than the global average.
Background
The report is the IPU’s most comprehensive to date, based on 2025 data from 210 parliamentary chambers, (150 single or lower chambers and 60 upper chambers).
It also highlights the voices of young MPs themselves, incorporating insights from interviews with 64 current and former young MPs (47% of them women) from 53 countries. These MPs shared their perspectives on entering parliament, the obstacles they face, and their recommendations for improving youth participation.
The forthcoming 152nd IPU Assembly, taking place in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 15 to 19 April 2026, will have a focus on youth participation with its overall theme of Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations.
A young activist calling for equality, justice and human rights in South Africa. © Armand Burger
