Gen Z Leads Wave of Protests Across Europe

Across dozens of European cities, members of Generation Z have taken to the streets demanding better schooling, affordable housing, and an end to perceived corruption. —a line from *The Hunger Games* that has become a rallying cry for many youth movements. Similar unrest has erupted from the suburbs of Paris to the squares of Belgrade, where student-led protests contributed to the electoral defeat of Serbia’s long-time leader Aleksandar Vucic after two years of demonstrations. In Milan, 21-year-old Chiara describes the movement as “an explosion of rage” that forces collective action.

Reuters

A European Union survey published in 2025 found that 40 % of 16-30-year-olds cite rising prices and the cost of living as a primary concern. The same data show that 7 million people in the EU faced a risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, with the highest risk among 18-24-year-olds at 26.3 % and the lowest among those 65 and older at 18.8 %. The OFCE think-tank reports that people over 60 in France, who comprise a quarter of the population, own 60 % of the nation’s wealth. French pensions now consume about 14 % of economic output, a figure that has risen 2.5 percentage points of GDP between 2000 and 2023, while education spending fell by 0.5 % in the same period. OECD figures for 2025 place Greece and Italy at the top of pension-to-GDP ratios (around 16 %), far above countries such as Australia and South Korea, which spend less than 4 %.

Reuters

Bilal Narjissi, a 17-year-old high-school student north of Paris, protests “deplorable” school conditions, recalling a roof collapse that forced an evacuation.

Reuters

“Our Prime Minister spent 130 days not listening to us,” — Xyke Kurti, a 19-year-old architecture student

Reuters

A French government report released in October highlighted the shift of education- ministry funds toward pensions, crowding out resources for schools. The report also noted that pension spending is on track to become the largest public expense in France. Meanwhile, authorities in several cities have responded to unrest with stun grenades and water cannons, and police actions have been documented in France where thousands of shops were damaged or looted during recent protests.

Reuters

Demonstrations continue to spread, with organizers planning a large rally in Germany this weekend to address cost-of-living pressures, inequality, the war in Ukraine, and the state of education. The persistence of these protests suggests that Gen Z’s demands will remain a prominent feature of Europe’s political landscape in the months ahead.

Reuters