Forget everything you thought you knew about apathetic young voters, because the dramatic surge in youth turnout is rewriting the political playbook across the United States and around the globe.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout among youth aged 18-29 reached 55%, a significant increase from previous cycles
- For the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, youth turnout (18-29) was 31%, higher than the 21% in 2014 midterms
- In 2022 U.S. midterms, 18-24 year olds had a turnout of 23%, while 25-29 was 34%
- In Minnesota 2020, youth 18-24 turnout was 58.1%, highest state
- Texas 2020 youth 18-29 turnout 46.2%
- California 2022 midterms youth turnout 18-24: 22.4%
- US youth 18-24 turnout in 1972 was 43.4%, first post-26th amendment election
- 1976 presidential youth turnout dropped to 37.8%
- 1980 youth 18-24: 33.5%
- In 2020, young women 18-29 turnout 58%, higher than young men at 52%
- Among Black youth 18-29 in 2020, turnout was 59%
- Latino youth 18-24 turnout 2020: 48.2%
- In Canada 2019 federal election, youth 18-24 turnout was 57%
- UK 2019 general election youth 18-24 turnout 47%
- Australia 2022 federal youth 18-24: 68%
Youth voter turnout recently hit historic highs, especially in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Demographics
1In 2020, young women 18-29 turnout 58%, higher than young men at 52%
Verified2Among Black youth 18-29 in 2020, turnout was 59%
Verified3Latino youth 18-24 turnout 2020: 48.2%
Verified4White youth 18-29 2020 turnout 53.4%
Directional5College-educated youth 2020 turnout 65%, vs non-college 47%
Single source6Suburban youth turnout 2020: 56.7%, urban 51.2%, rural 45.3%
Verified7Asian American youth 18-29 2020: 54.1%
Verified8In 2018, young men turnout 28%, young women 34%
Verified9Black youth women 2020 turnout 62.3%
Directional10Rural Latino youth 2020: 42.8%
Single source11LGBTQ+ youth turnout 2020 estimated at 60%
Verified12First-time youth voters 2020: 53% turnout
Verified13Youth with disabilities 2016 turnout 35%
Verified14Urban Black youth 18-24 2020: 57.9%
DirectionalDemographics Interpretation
While young people aren't a monolith, these numbers paint a clear picture: the ballot box in 2020 was most reliably opened by the educated, the suburban, and young Black women, while rural areas and those without degrees lagged behind, proving that political engagement is less about age and more about opportunity and community.
Historical Trends
1US youth 18-24 turnout in 1972 was 43.4%, first post-26th amendment election
Verified21976 presidential youth turnout dropped to 37.8%
Verified31980 youth 18-24: 33.5%
Verified41984 Reagan election youth turnout 42.1%
Directional51988 youth turnout 36.2%
Single source61992 Clinton election youth 18-29: 39.7%
Verified71996 youth turnout lowest at 32.4%
Verified82000 Bush v Gore youth 36.1%
Verified92004 youth surged to 47.1%
Directional102008 Obama election youth 50.1%
Single source112012 youth 41.9%
Verified122014 midterms youth 19.9%
Verified132016 youth 43.8%
Verified142018 midterms youth 31.1%
Directional152020 record high youth 52.6% for 18-29
Single source16Midterm youth turnout 1982: 38.2%
Verified171990 midterms youth 20.4%
Verified182002 post-9/11 youth turnout 28.7%
Verified192006 midterms youth 26.3%
Directional202010 Tea Party midterms youth 24.1%
Single sourceHistorical Trends Interpretation
Youth voters, like capricious ghosts, only haunt the polls in numbers when they either see a political savior or feel the cold breath of a national crisis.
International
1In Canada 2019 federal election, youth 18-24 turnout was 57%
Verified2UK 2019 general election youth 18-24 turnout 47%
Verified3Australia 2022 federal youth 18-24: 68%
Verified4Germany 2021 federal youth 18-24: 49.2%
Directional5France 2022 presidential youth 18-24: 28%
Single source6Sweden 2022 youth 18-21: 71%
Verified7Netherlands 2021 youth 18-24: 52.6%
Verified8South Korea 2020 parliamentary youth 18-29: 46.7%
Verified9Brazil 2022 presidential youth 16-24: 54.8%
Directional10India 2019 Lok Sabha youth 18-29 estimated 40%
Single source11Japan 2021 general youth 18-19: 43%
Verified12Spain 2023 general youth 18-24: 45.2%
Verified13Italy 2022 general youth 18-24: 38.7%
Verified14Mexico 2021 midterm youth 18-29: 41.3%
Directional15New Zealand 2023 youth 18-24: 67%
Single source16Ireland 2020 general youth 18-24: 62.5%
Verified17Poland 2023 presidential youth 18-29: 48.9%
Verified18Turkey 2023 presidential youth 18-24: 52.1%
Verified19Argentina 2023 presidential youth 16-29: 55.4%
DirectionalInternational Interpretation
While youth engagement can swing dramatically from Sweden's robust 71% to France's concerning 28%, these figures collectively whisper a global truth: democracies are on a generationally unstable footing, reliant on a coin toss as to whether the young will show up to shape their own future.
State-Level US
1In Minnesota 2020, youth 18-24 turnout was 58.1%, highest state
Verified2Texas 2020 youth 18-29 turnout 46.2%
Verified3California 2022 midterms youth turnout 18-24: 22.4%
Verified4Florida 2020 youth 18-29: 49.8%
Directional5New York 2018 youth turnout 27.5%
Single source6Georgia 2022 youth 18-24: 25.1%
Verified7Pennsylvania 2020 youth 18-29: 52.3%
Verified8Wisconsin 2016 youth turnout 52%
Verified9Michigan 2022 youth 18-24: 26.8%
Directional10Ohio 2020 youth 18-29: 45.7%
Single source11Illinois 2018 youth turnout 28.9%
Verified12Colorado 2020 youth 18-24: 61.2%
Verified13Virginia 2022 youth turnout 24.3%
Verified14North Carolina 2020 youth 18-29: 50.1%
Directional15Washington 2022 youth 18-24: 29.7%
Single source16Oregon 2020 youth turnout 57.4%
Verified17Nevada 2018 youth 25.6%
Verified18Arizona 2022 youth 18-29: 28.2%
Verified19New Jersey 2020 youth turnout 47.9%
Directional20Massachusetts 2018 youth 30.1%
Single sourceState-Level US Interpretation
Minnesota and Colorado's youth are apparently running the democracy show, while the rest of the country's young voters seem to be stuck on the "maybe next election" loading screen.
US National Turnout
1In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, voter turnout among youth aged 18-29 reached 55%, a significant increase from previous cycles
Verified2For the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, youth turnout (18-29) was 31%, higher than the 21% in 2014 midterms
Verified3In 2022 U.S. midterms, 18-24 year olds had a turnout of 23%, while 25-29 was 34%
Verified4Youth voter turnout (18-29) in the 2008 presidential election was 48.5%
Directional5In 2012, national youth turnout for 18-24 was 41.2%
Single source62020 saw 18-29 turnout at 51.4% per Census data
Verified7Youth 18-24 turnout in 2000 was 36%
Verified82004 presidential youth turnout 47%
Verified92016 election youth 18-29 turnout 44%
Directional10Non-college youth turnout in 2020 was 48%, lower than college-educated youth at 62%
Single sourceUS National Turnout Interpretation
The data suggests young voters are not apathetic but judiciously selective, dramatically increasing turnout for high-stakes presidential elections while still treating midterms like an optional subscription they occasionally remember to cancel.
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