Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – Country and SocietyResults of 62nd installment announced – Japanese young adults rank lowest in dreams for their country’s and their own future

The 62nd installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds, launched by The Nippon Foundation in October 2018, was carried out from February 22 to March 5 on the subject of “Awareness of Country and Society,” surveying 1,000 young people (aged 17 to 19) each in six countries: Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, South Korea, and India. The survey found that 15% of all Japanese respondents thought that their own country’s future “Will get better” and 60% “Have dreams” for their own future, both of which were the lowest figures among the six countries covered.
Japan also ranked lowest among the six countries for the number of respondents who replied, “My country is able to be a leader in international society.” With regard to the major issues facing their country, Japanese respondents ranked “Declining birthrate” as No. 1 and “Aging population” as No. 2, which were also the No.1 and No.2 responses among respondents in South Korea, which like Japan is also experiencing a rapid decline in the birthrate and aging of the population. On the related issue of current support for older people and young people, among Japanese respondents, the percentage who replied that “There is sufficient support for older people” was 29.5 percentage points higher than for those who replied that “There is sufficient support for young people,” a striking difference compared with the differentials of less than 10 percentage points for the other five countries.
Other results also indicated low feelings of self-esteem and self-efficacy among Japanese respondents, with 46% replying that “I believe my own actions can change my country and society” and roughly 54% replying that “I have a personality that I can be proud of,” both of which were the lowest among the six countries.

Highlights of the 62nd Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – Country and Society

Regarding their own country’s future

Percentage replying that their country’s future “Will get better”
China – 85.0%; India – 78.3%; South Korea – 41.4%; United States – 26.3%; United Kingdom – 24.6%; Japan – 15.3%

Regarding their own country

Combined percentage replying “Agree” or “Somewhat agree”

	Japan	United States	United Kingdom	China	South Korea	India
Given the opportunity, I would like to study or work in another country	52.8%	71.5%	76.7%	72.6%	79.3%	76.1%
My country is able to be a leader in international society	41.1%	66.5%	60.1%	95.0%	61.5%	85.4%
My country has excellent leaders	36.8%	42.9%	35.6%	95.0%	56.6%	80.8%

Survey Excerpts

About the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds

Revisions to Japan’s Civil Code lowering the age of adulthood to 18 for a range of activities, including voting, took effect in April 2022, making it even more important to understand and record the awareness of the 18-year-olds who represent Japan’s next generation. With this in mind, in October 2018 The Nippon Foundation launched the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds as an ongoing survey of young men and women across Japan aged around 18, to survey their values, attitudes toward politics and elections, understanding of social issues, and other current themes on an ongoing basis.

Notes:

1. From the 13th survey, the number of respondents, comprising men and women aged 17 to 19, has been increased to 1,000 from 800.
2. With the exception of the 20th, 46th, and 62nd installments, “Awareness Survey of Country and Society,” all surveys cover respondents in Japan only.