A major study by the Astrojildo Pereira Foundation, based on half a million social media posts from youths aged 16 to 30 across 145 Brazilian cities, reveals a clear trend: as young Brazilians grow older, fewer identify with left-wing politics.
Among teenagers, 44.5% identify with the left; this drops to 33.7% by age 24 and just 18.9% by age 30.
The number of young people calling themselves centrists grows with age, from 17.6% among the youngest group to 27.4% among the oldest.
More also call themselves political skeptics or become apathetic. The percentage who say they don’t trust politicians or political ideas rises from 19.5% up to 25.2%.
Those who express apathy—with little or no political interest—increase from 7.4% among teens to 10.9% in the oldest group. Support for right-wing ideas changes little with age.
Researchers found that as young people start work and focus on family and personal goals, they often move away from political idealism.
They seek practicality and stability instead. International research sees similar trends, especially as people take on more responsibility.
Brazilian Youth Abandon Left, Seek Stability and Doubt Politics as They Grow Older
Social media plays a key role. The research points out that right-wing voices have become louder online compared to the left, shaping much of the digital debate.
Left-leaning groups struggle to regain attention, even as they try to rally support around issues like U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods.
The findings show a generation of Brazilians shifting from youthful dreams to more moderate or skeptical views, with many moving away from party politics entirely.
This matters for businesses and policymakers: future consumers and voters might be less predictable and demand straightforward solutions.
These results come from clear, doblockented data collected by the AP Exata consultancy, with public platforms like Facebook and X, and are approved by the Astrojildo Pereira Foundation, a centrist research group.
The study follows recognized online monitoring methods and avoids speculation. This generational shift signals major changes for Brazil’s politics, markets, and the relationship between the public and their leaders.
Download the study here.
