“Only the Young can say. They’re free to fly away”: International Youth Day 2026 – WIN Worldviews Survey

International Youth Day 2026: What insights can tell us about Malaysian youth, their hopes, opportunities and aspirations.

Today on August 12, we celebrate International Youth Day, a day to celebrate the voices, aspirations, and leadership of young people around the world. But far be it from us to think that the youth make their voices known only on this day, for they are a pivotal part of where the world is headed, though there are some who say that it is up to the youth to fix or deal with the mistakes of the past.

From Nelson Mandela and Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama and Xi Jinping, leaders across generations have spoken about the importance of young people in shaping the future. Closer to home, PMX Anwar Ibrahim has also repeatedly emphasised the role of Malaysia’s youth in the nation’s future. The question then is not whether young people matter, but rather if they themselves remain hopeful about the future they are shaping.

Gen Z, the Zoomers, succeed Millennials as the new generation of youth, and according to the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN)’s latest Worldviews Survey, Malaysian youth are particularly interesting and optimistic. Malaysian youth are relatively confident about their prospects, optimistic about owning a home one day, and yet surprisingly open to leaving the country if better opportunities come their way.

Hope is not in short supply

The numbers paint a rather encouraging picture. Based on our research compiled for WIN, 85% of Malaysian youth (ages 18 to 24) say they are hopeful about their future here in the country. This is a refreshing finding, particularly during a time when conversations around the rising cost of living, career pressures and an uncertain future can sometimes make it sound as though young people have lost faith in what lies ahead.

There is also optimism when it comes to something that matters deeply to many young Malaysians: owning a home. 71% of Malaysian youth believe they will be able to afford a home of their own in the future, compared with 52% of the general Malaysian population. For a generation often portrayed as being priced out of homeownership, that confidence is perhaps more encouraging than what we might expect. Is this youthful idealism? Or is it a highly optimistic youth ready for the challenges and confident of policies, initiatives, or opportunities ahead?

And while half of Malaysian youth believe their generation has more opportunities than their parents had, the figure is lower than the 59% recorded among the total population. Young Malaysians are hopeful about their own future, but they may be less convinced that the path ahead will necessarily be easier than the one their parents and the generation before them travelled.

As we dig deeper, we will learn that hope is fluid and mobile. Hope does not necessarily mean believing that everything will be easy. It can also mean believing that there is a destination, something to achieve, and an opportunity in view.

Would you leave Malaysia for a better future?

Only the young can say,

They’re free to fly away…

If we cling to hope, we naturally seek opportunities that bring us to our intended destination. And for many young Malaysians, such opportunities may not necessarily be within Malaysia. 71% of Malaysian youth would consider moving to another country for better opportunities. Of this percentage, 44% would do so if they could migrate legally, while another 27% say they would move regardless of the conditions. Only 23% say they would not consider moving abroad for better opportunities.

At first, the numbers may seem contradictory. How can 85% of Malaysian youth be hopeful about their future, with 71% believing they can eventually afford their own home, and yet 71% of them be willing to leave the country for better opportunities? Are they hopeful about Malaysia, or are they simply hoping to find something better elsewhere?

Perhaps it is neither. Perhaps being hopeful does not mean being content with what we already have. A young Malaysian can believe in a better future while still looking beyond our borders for the experience, income, skills, exposure and opportunities (and fun!).

For decades, going overseas was often associated with a very specific idea of success: get a scholarship, study abroad, secure a good job, and perhaps stay if the opportunity was right. Sometimes Mom and Dad will say, “Don’t come back.” Today, the world is far more connected. Look at how many Malaysians work across the causeway in Singapore. We don’t have to mention the many doctors there, and the multitude of Malaysians working across various industries. Malaysians in Australia? We know someone. The UK? We know of a popular Oxford graduate!

And speaking about Singapore, for generations of Malaysians, particularly those from Johor, working in Singapore has been part of the reality of pursuing better salaries, stronger currencies and greater savings. For some, they may plan to work there for only a few years. For others, it may become a longer chapter of life. But leaving Malaysia does not necessarily mean it is for good.

One thing is for sure with a universal reason: the opportunity for a better salary, a better exchange rate, and increased savings represents an ideal jumpstart towards that bigger down-payment to afford the ideal home to start a family. This is the reality of it, as youth aspire and hope for a better future, leveraging an increasingly smaller world thanks to technology and travel.

Perhaps this is what the survey is really telling us. Young Malaysians are not necessarily looking for a permanent escape route, but in fact are willing to explore the world for opportunities, while they remain hopeful about the future they can build for themselves back home.

There are some things you cannot take with you

Sharing the same desire,

Burnin’ like wildfire…

For youth all over and not just in Malaysia, the world is increasingly open. Opportunities are no longer limited to the traditional path of studying, getting a job, buying a home and settling down. Technology, entrepreneurship, research, evolving industries and global businesses have opened new possibilities for a generation that can leverage on what is available today that the generation before could not.

But there are some things that are difficult to leave behind. Ask any Malaysian living abroad and sooner or later, the conversation will probably come back to the 3Fs: Family, Friends and Food. Many Malaysians abroad would speak fondly about how they miss the midnight nasi lemak or Hokkien mee, crave roti canai and teh tarik for breakfast, or simply miss the familiar chaos, convenience and character of everyday Malaysian life.

It is important to note that a desire to seek better opportunities elsewhere does not necessarily come from dissatisfaction with where we came from. Sometimes, it simply comes from wanting more out of life. It is a reality that if we step out of our comfort zone, we stand to find opportunity for a higher salary, a rewarding career, the chance to learn something new, or gain an experience abroad.

Perhaps this is the Malaysian paradox. We are curious enough to look beyond our borders, ambitious and adventurous enough to pursue opportunities elsewhere, yet homely enough to come back to the familiar.

A generation waiting for dawn

Brave carry on,

Burnin’ like wildfire…

We hope you will find this WIN Worldviews Survey engaging and thought-provoking. Feel free to download the survey report below. At Central Force Insights, we believe these topics help us stay grounded across modern issues that shape society in more ways than one. With 45,000 respondents across 45 countries, the findings give us a glimpse into how different generations see the world, an opportunity to become more aware of one another, and perhaps more importantly, to relate to and bridge the gaps between us.

Whether you are a Zoomer, a Millennial, a Gen X, or a Boomer, understanding how each generation sees the world matters in business, learning, social groups, parenting, friendships and simply in understanding the people we live and work alongside. After all, every generation was once young, and every generation will eventually leave something behind for the next.

Therefore, let this concluding message not be one aimed only for the youth, but rather, the young at heart and spirit. Go and explore. Earn, but also learn. Experience the world, meet new people. Build your network, find your ambition and, who knows, perhaps even find someone special along the way. There is nothing wrong with wanting more, and there is nothing wrong with flying away for a while if you need to.

And when you are ready, remember that there is no place quite like home.