Business Insider Africa presents the 5 African countries where young people say their country is heading in the wrong direction. The list is courtesy of the 2026 African Youth Survey.

Burkina Faso and Rwanda record the highest levels of optimism at 91% each, while Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia have recorded some of the biggest improvements.

African youth are becoming more optimistic about the future, but that optimism is increasingly uneven across the continent. More than half, or 51%, now say they are optimistic or excited about the future of their country, a significant increase from 35% in 2024.

Burkina Faso and Rwanda record the highest levels of optimism at 91% each, while Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia have recorded some of the biggest improvements, according to the latest 2026 African Youth Survey.

Yet beneath the broader improvement in sentiment is a more complicated picture. One-third of African youth remain negative about their country’s future, down from 44% in 2024. The proportion describing themselves as pessimistic has also risen to 12%, its highest level since the research began in 2020.

Economic pressures appear to be playing a major role. The rising cost of living has overtaken infectious diseases and political instability as the event with the greatest impact on young Africans over the past five years. Higher food and fuel prices, unemployment, corruption and limited economic opportunities continue to influence how young people view their countries.

In several African markets, dissatisfaction is particularly strong. Mozambique leads with 85% of youth saying their country is heading in the wrong direction.

Below are the 5 African countries where young people say their country is heading in the wrong direction:

1) Mozambique — 85%

Mozambique has the highest share among the five countries of young people who believe their country is heading in the wrong direction, at 85%. The result points to deep dissatisfaction among young Mozambicans, despite broader improvements in African youth optimism. Rising living costs, limited economic opportunities and concerns about governance are likely contributing to the pessimism.

2) Chad — 80%

Eight in 10 young people in Chad believe their country is moving in the wrong direction, placing it among the countries with the highest levels of dissatisfaction. The figure highlights the difficult outlook facing young Chadians, particularly amid economic pressures and political uncertainty. The result contrasts sharply with countries such as Burkina Faso and Rwanda, where youth optimism about the future has reached 91%.

3) Kenya — 80%

Kenya records an 80% rate of youth who believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. The finding is particularly striking because 27% of Kenyan youth describe themselves as pessimistic about their country’s future, the highest proportion recorded across the survey. Rising living costs, economic pressures and limited opportunities for young people appear to be weighing heavily on sentiment.

4) Nigeria — 76%

In Nigeria, 76% of young people believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, reflecting widespread concern about the country’s economic and social trajectory. The finding comes as the rising cost of living has become the most impactful event shaping African youth experiences. For Nigerian youth, inflation, weaker purchasing power, unemployment and concerns about corruption continue to shape perceptions of the country’s future.

5) South Africa — 75%

Three-quarters of young South Africans believe their country is heading in the wrong direction, placing South Africa among the countries with the highest levels of youth dissatisfaction. The country’s youth also record one of the highest levels of pessimism, with 24% describing themselves as pessimistic about the future. Economic pressures, unemployment, inequality and the rising cost of living remain major concerns for younger South Africans.

Adekunle Agbetiloye
Adekunle is a Senior Reporter at Business Insider Africa with interest in the African economy, technology, energy transition, and climate change. He is passionate about telling the story of an evolving Africa.