The multi-country survey, built upon 4,897 face-to-face interviews with 18- to 24-year-olds across 16 African nations, shows matching growth regarding economic sentiment. Exactly 55 percent of young Zambians now assess the national economy as moving in a positive direction, surging from 17 percent in 2024 and exceeding the Sub-Saharan African survey average of 45 percent. Correspondingly, personal migration intentions have declined markedly. Only 27 percent of respondents indicate a likelihood to emigrate within the next three years, down from over 50 percent two years prior, as a growing majority opt to pursue careers, higher education, and commercial ventures domestically.
Social stability and democratic commitment also registered exceptionally strong metrics. Ninety-two percent of young Zambians state they feel safe in their country today—the second-highest rate across all 16 surveyed nations and well above the regional benchmark of 70 percent—while 74 percent report fair treatment by security services. Furthermore, 83 percent affirm that democracy is always preferable to other governance models, representing one of the highest levels of democratic endorsement in the 2026 study.
Despite the broader positive outlook, young Zambians identified pressing socio-economic challenges, citing the rising cost of living (37%) and infectious disease mortality (19%) as the most impactful events affecting their lives over the past five years. To sustain national stability and security, two-thirds of respondents prioritized youth job creation, alongside calls for transparent natural resource management, sustainable infrastructure investment, and expanded capital access for young entrepreneurs. Ichikowitz Family Foundation Chairman Ivor Ichikowitz highlighted these findings as a clear demonstration of active “Afro-optimism,” signaling to international investors that Zambia’s younger generation is actively seeking opportunities to build businesses and drive long-term economic development at home.
ABJ/APA