Depending on which country you live in, you might love your president or leader, or you might be plotting a move abroad as soon as possible. Even if your country is one of the happiest, wealthiest, or healthiest statistically, there’s no such thing as utopia. And no matter where you are, deciding on who should run the nation will never be unanimous.
According to a 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, the majority surveyed in 20 out of 25 countries believe that their political system is in need of either major changes or complete reform. And at least eight-in-ten adults believe this in Argentina, Brazil, Greece, Kenya, Nigeria, South Korea, and the United States.
Not everyone is optimistic about the future, though. In 12 countries surveyed, about four-in-ten adults expressed skepticism that their political system can change, despite the fact that they strongly desire change. In Greece, for example, over two-thirds of citizens desire complete reform or major changes to their political system. But they’re not convinced that effective change is possible.
In India, Kenya, and South Africa, on the other hand, over half of those surveyed say that they’re confident the system can change. And in Sweden and the Netherlands, over two-thirds of the population doesn’t see the need for major changes to the political system.
As far as how people view their governments, Pew found that 47% believe that few or none of the elected officials in their country are honest. Meanwhile, 46% of citizens believe that few or none of their politicians understand the needs of ordinary people, and 40% say that few or none of them are ethical. Meanwhile, only 18% think that the majority of their country’s leaders are well-qualified for their positions.
It’s no secret that people around the world are fed up, particularly younger generations. The survey found that the desire for drastic political change was stronger among young adults than older adults in nine countries. In Canada, for example, over half of adults between the ages of 18 and 34 want political reform, while only 29% of those over the age of 50 feel the same way. Perhaps part of the reason for this is how active the younger generations are on social media.
While social media certainly wasn’t created to be a tool used for political activism, that’s how many people choose to use it today. A 2023 survey from Pew found that nearly half of social media users had been politically active online in the past year. Over a third said they had taken part in a group that shares an interest in an issue or cause, and over a quarter had encouraged others to take action on issues that they consider important. 14% had also looked up rallies or protests in their area on social media.
40% of adult social media users in the U.S. believe that social media is very important when it comes to finding others who share the same views and care about the same issues. Nearly one-third also say these platforms are important for getting involved with political or social issues that they're passionate about. And over a quarter say that social media gives them a venue to express their political opinions.
