Young and middle-aged Canadians are significantly less likely than older adults to feel hopeful about the future of democracy in Canada, according to new findings from Statistics Canada, highlighting a growing generational gap in attitudes toward democratic institutions and the way the country is governed.
The study examined Canadians’ views on democracy, confidence in public institutions, trust in different sources of information and participation in political activities. The findings provide a snapshot of how Canadians viewed the country’s democratic system between 2022 and 2024. Overall, most Canadians continued to express at least some level of hope about the way democracy works in Canada. In 2024, about seven in 10 Canadians aged 15 and older said they were either a little or somewhat hopeful about Canadian democracy. A smaller proportion described themselves as very hopeful, while nearly one in five said they were not at all hopeful. The age differences were particularly notable. Canadians between the ages of 25 and 34 were among the least hopeful groups. Nearly one-quarter of people in this age range said they were not at all hopeful about how democracy works in Canada. A similar pattern was seen among Canadians aged 35 to 44. By comparison, Canadians aged 65 and older were considerably less likely to say they had no hope in the country’s democratic system. Older Canadians were also more likely to describe themselves as very hopeful. The findings suggest that age is an important factor in Canadians’ perceptions of democracy, although the study does not establish a single reason why younger people are less optimistic. Different generations have experienced very different economic, social and political conditions, which may shape how they view government and public institutions. For many younger Canadians, concerns about housing affordability, the cost of living, employment opportunities, wages and long-term financial security have become important issues. These concerns can influence how people perceive the effectiveness of governments and institutions, although Statistics Canada does not conclude that any one of these factors directly caused lower levels of hopefulness. The study also found a strong relationship between hopefulness about democracy and confidence in public institutions. Canadians who expressed little or no hope in democracy were generally less likely to report high levels of confidence in institutions such as Parliament, the justice system, courts, police, schools, banks and major corporations. Confidence in Parliament showed one of the clearest differences. Canadians who were very hopeful about democracy were much more likely to report high confidence in Parliament than those who said they were not at all hopeful. The relationship extended to the media and information sources as well. People who expressed lower levels of hopefulness about democracy generally reported lower levels of trust in several sources of information.
The findings come at a time when Canadians are navigating a rapidly changing information environment. Social media platforms, online news, video-sharing services and artificial intelligence have made it easier for people to access information, but they have also increased the amount of conflicting and misleading information available to the public.
For younger Canadians, social media is an especially important part of everyday communication and news consumption. The large amount of political information encountered online can expose people to a wide range of opinions and perspectives, but it can also contribute to disagreement and distrust.
Despite lower levels of hopefulness, the study found that political pessimism does not necessarily mean political disengagement.
In fact, Canadians who said they were not at all hopeful about democracy were more likely to report participating in at least one political activity during the previous year than those who expressed greater hopefulness. Political participation included activities beyond voting, such as contacting political representatives, signing petitions, participating in demonstrations or engaging in other forms of civic activity. This suggests that dissatisfaction with democratic institutions can sometimes motivate people to become more involved rather than withdraw completely from political life.
The findings also indicate that being critical of democracy and participating in democracy are not mutually exclusive. People can have serious concerns about the way institutions operate while continuing to vote, contact elected officials, discuss political issues or participate in community activities. Voting itself did not show the same clear relationship with hopefulness. The study found no strong evidence that people who were less hopeful about democracy were necessarily less likely to vote. There were also differences across regions of Canada. People living in the Prairie provinces were more likely to report that they were not at all hopeful about Canadian democracy, while the proportion was lower in some other parts of the country. Differences were also observed between people living in large metropolitan areas and those living outside major urban centres.
The results do not mean that younger Canadians have rejected democracy. Rather, they show that younger generations are more likely to express concerns or uncertainty about how democratic institutions are functioning. The generational differences may be important for governments and institutions because younger Canadians will increasingly become the largest group of voters, workers and participants in civic life. Understanding why confidence and hopefulness differ between generations could help policymakers and institutions address concerns about representation, transparency and accountability. The findings also underline the importance of public trust. Democratic institutions depend not only on elections but also on people’s willingness to believe that institutions are functioning fairly, that information is reliable and that governments are responsive to citizens. At the same time, Statistics Canada’s findings show that Canadians who are critical of the system remain capable of active participation within it. Political engagement among people who are dissatisfied may indicate that concerns about democracy can become a reason for greater civic involvement. The study provides a snapshot rather than a definitive explanation for the differences between generations. Attitudes can change as political circumstances, economic conditions and major national events change.
Statistics Canada said that continuing to measure Canadians’ views over time could help determine whether these differences are temporary or part of a longer-term change in attitudes toward democracy and public institutions. The findings present a mixed picture of Canada’s democratic landscape. While a majority of Canadians remain at least somewhat hopeful about democracy, younger adults are substantially more likely than older Canadians to express a lack of hope. At the same time, many of those who are less hopeful continue to participate in political and civic life, showing that concern about democracy does not necessarily translate into political withdrawal.