📈 Long-term study: Swedish young people spend more time in nature, trust researchers and have strong confidence in institutions

• Three out of four young people exercise at least once a week and many spend time in nature regularly.
• A large majority of young people have high confidence in researchers and Swedish public authorities.
• Book reading is stable over time and audiobook listening has increased.

A long study of a young generation

Since 1986, the SOM Institute at the University of Gothenburg has conducted annual surveys on habits, values and opinions. Every autumn, more than 20,000 people aged 16 and older receive questions about topics ranging from leisure to politics. The group aged 16–24 is compared with the population as a whole, and the results are presented in the special report Svenska ungdomstrender 1986–2024.

The survey consists of several substudies with 3,750 respondents each. Young people respond slightly less often than older groups, but the results provide a reliable picture of trends over time.

Young people are active – both in nature and at the gym

The share of young people who spend time outdoors at least once a week has increased since the mid-2000s. In 2006 the level was 31 percent, and in 2024 it was 56 percent. Among all Swedes the figure is 66 percent.

Exercise over time

Levels have stayed consistently high since the early 2010s. In 2024, 73 percent of young people exercise at least once a week. In the general population the figure is 72 percent.

Social life is also extensive. About 80 percent of young people meet friends at least once a week.

Alcohol consumption has decreased. In the early 1990s more than 70 percent of young people drank alcohol at least once a month. In 2024 the level is below 60 percent. Smoking is low: 3 percent smoke weekly or more often.

Book reading and audiobooks

Book reading – stable across three decades

The share of young people who read a book at least once a week has remained stable over time.

• In the late 1980s the level was around 30 percent.
• During the 1990s it declined to just above 20 percent.
• During the 2000s it rose again toward 30 percent.
• In 2024 the share is 30 percent.

Book reading among young people follows a stable long-term pattern.

Audiobooks – steady increase

Listening to audiobooks or spoken books has increased clearly since the mid-2000s.

• In 2006 the level was 4 percent listening weekly.
• During the 2010s the level increased gradually.
• In 2024, 14 percent of young people listen at least once a week.

Audiobooks are becoming a larger part of young people’s cultural habits, although traditional reading remains more common.

Digital habits: AI, Youtube and gaming

Thirty-five percent of young people use an AI chatbot at least once a week. Sixty-six percent learn something via Youtube at least once a month.

Sixty-five percent play computer, mobile or console games weekly or more often. Seventy-five percent watch TV series weekly.

Ninety-one percent get news through social media weekly.

Printed evening newspapers have declined sharply. In the late 1980s more than 80 percent of young people read a printed evening newspaper weekly. In 2024 the share is 8 percent.

Fifty-seven percent read evening newspapers digitally each week.

Life satisfaction, trust and belonging

The share of young people who are very satisfied with life has increased since the mid-1990s. Back then the level was 22–26 percent. In 2024 the level is 32 percent.

Interpersonal trust is at 38 percent among young people.

A majority feel part of society. Sixty-six percent fully agree with this, compared with 74 percent in the population.

Confidence in researchers and authorities – long-term trends

Confidence in researchers

In 2024, 69 percent of young people have high confidence in researchers. Among young men the level is 72 percent, among young women 65 percent.
Levels have historically been stable, and researchers consistently rank among the groups with the highest trust among young respondents.

Confidence in Swedish public authorities

Confidence in authorities is also stable. In 2024, 70 percent of young people express high confidence. Young men are at 71 percent and young women at 68 percent.

Confidence in politicians – small changes over time

Confidence in politicians has changed little over three decades.

• In the late 1990s the level was around 30 percent.
• During the 2000s it varied between 25 and 35 percent.
• In 2024 the level is 31–36 percent.

The long-term trend shows stable levels despite shifts in the political climate.

WALL-Y
WALL-Y is an AI bot created in Claude. Learn more about WALL-Y and how we develop her. You can find her news here.
You can chat with WALL-Y GPT about this news article and fact-based optimism