Gen Z, the generation born roughly between the late 1990s and early 2010s, has grown up in a world shaped by smartphones, social media, climate anxiety, economic shocks, and political polarization, making global Gen Z values a powerful force to watch.
By 2025, Gen Z will be entering positions of influence as voters, workers, and creators. But while they share certain global attitudes, their priorities differ sharply by region, shaped by local culture, history, and economic reality.
Understanding these differences is key to anticipating how politics, workplaces, and social movements will evolve over the next decade.
What Gen Z Shares Across Borders
Across most regions, Gen Z tends to value a few core themes:
- A desire for authenticity and transparency, whether from brands, governments, or employers.
- Heightened mental health awareness, with less stigma about anxiety, depression, or burnout.
- Strong concern about climate change and environmental damage, often framed as a matter of justice rather than pure science.
- An expectation of digital inclusion by access to information, connectivity, and the ability to express themselves online.
Yet how these values translate into priorities varies widely from place to place.
North America & Europe: Identity, Justice, and Work-Life Balance
In North America and much of Europe, Gen Z often places a high priority on social justice, focusing on issues such as racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equity, and anti-discrimination policies. They are more likely than older generations to support diverse representation in media, politics, and corporate leadership.
Work-wise, many prioritize flexibility over prestige. Remote or hybrid work, mental health benefits, and purposeful careers often matter more than traditional status markers. There is also growing skepticism toward institutions, from governments to large corporations, and a greater willingness to call out perceived hypocrisy.
At the same time, economic pressures, including high housing costs, student debt, and insecure job markets, fuel a more critical view of capitalism and inequality, especially in major cities.
See Tracking Global Happiness: What Data Reveals About Well-Being to understand how people feel worldwide.
Asia-Pacific: Stability, Opportunity, and Silent Pressures
In the Asia-Pacific region, the priorities of Gen Z are often shaped by rapid economic growth, intense academic competition, and strong family expectations.
In countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan, many young people balance a desire for personal fulfillment with the pressures of academic achievement and success in highly competitive job markets. Economic insecurity, long working hours, and high housing costs are central concerns. This has contributed to quiet forms of resistance, including the “lying flat” and “slow living” trends, as well as a growing interest in mental health and work-life balance.
In India and Southeast Asia, Gen Z is highly entrepreneurial and focused on opportunities. Many see education and digital skills as pathways out of poverty and into global careers. They tend to value economic mobility, tech-enabled innovation, and political stability, even as they become more vocal about corruption, inequality, and climate impacts.
Check out Global Labor Markets in Flux: Remote Work, Automation, and Migration to explore how new work models shape younger generations.
Latin America: Inequality, Community, and Demand for Change
For Gen Z in Latin America, economic inequality and insecurity significantly influence their worldview. Young people in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina often prioritize stable jobs, safety, and combating corruption.
They are also deeply engaged in social and political activism, frequently mobilizing around feminism, Indigenous rights, environmental protection (especially in the Amazon), and anti-corruption movements. Community and family bonds remain central, and many see collective action, not just individual success, as the path to a better future.
Faith and spirituality still play a significant role for many, but younger generations are more likely to question institutions and advocate for reforms within religious and political structures.
Read Tracking Global Protests: What’s Driving Social Movements Today to understand street movements and politics.
Middle East, North Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa: Dignity, Opportunity, and Voice
In the Middle East and North Africa, Gen Z frequently navigates a complex mix of tradition, religion, and demands for reform. Many young people prioritize dignity, employment, and a voice in politics. High youth unemployment, censorship, and limited social freedoms drive calls for transparency, better governance, and economic diversification.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, Gen Z is the backbone of the continent’s demographic boom. Their priorities often center on jobs, education, connectivity, and stability. Access to reliable internet, fair elections, and basic services sits alongside strong religious belief and community structures. Many are optimistic, but frustrated by corruption, inequality, and the impacts of climate change on agriculture and urban life.
Entrepreneurship, especially in tech, agriculture, and creative industries, is a key aspiration, with digital tools giving this generation new ways to build businesses and organize movements.
To understand Gen Z’s voice, see The Language of the Internet: Which Tongues Are Rising?
A Generation United by Tools, Divided by Context
Globally, Gen Z is united by shared tools, such as smartphones, social media, and online platforms, but divided and shaped by local realities. Where some fight for identity and mental health recognition, others focus on basic economic security or political rights. Their priorities are not uniform, yet together they are redefining what progress, success, and justice mean in the 21st century.
As they gain influence, understanding these regional differences will be essential for policymakers, employers, and institutions hoping to earn their trust.
