Gen Z protests: Do Baby Boomers really have it better than young people?

Gen Z protests: Do Baby Boomers really have it better?

Young people across Germany and Europe are taking to the streets, voicing fears of a bleak future.

But is that really the case? Does Gen Z face greater challenges than Baby Boomers did in the 1990s? What do the two generations have in common, and where do their experiences differ?

"Of course, it's fair to ask, 'Were things just as tough for you back then?'" youth researcher Simon Schnetzer tells DW. "But young people see that things are difficult for them now, and say that's why they need support today."

Schnetzer, who wrote the annual Youth in Germany study, highlights one key question raised by the recent demonstrations across Europe as: "Have we given young people the conditions they need to live and work here with confidence, and to keep this system funded?"

His straightforward answer is no. A survey of the statistics shows that both Gen Z and the Baby Boomers are affected by major societal changes, but in different ways. DW surveyed data on pensions, education, housing and climate change to find out more.

The facts point to a clear trend: Fewer and fewer young people are having to support an ever-growing number of retirees . According to the Germany's public pension insurance system, there were 3.73 contributors for every retiree in 1957. By 2025, that figure had fallen to just 2.1.

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