Two New Reports on Europe’s Younger Generations Published by Infra4NextGen
The Infra4NextGen project has released the first two in a series of five data summaries analysing Europe’s younger generations, drawing on insights from major cross-national surveys.
The first report, The Digital Divide across Europe (published 4 September), provides a descriptive overview of young people’s access to and use of digital technologies. The analysis highlights differences in digital skills, opportunities, and risks by age, gender, education, and place of living. While gaps in internet access have declined over time, inequalities remain – especially in daily use and digital skills. Young Europeans are more likely to experience digital stressors such as online fraud, and regional divides continue to shape opportunities, with northern European countries appearing at a more advanced stage in terms of infrastructure and equality.
The second report, The Health and Wellbeing of People in Europe (published 11 September), focuses on the social determinants of health. Researchers examined behavioural and psychosocial factors, material conditions, occupational situations, and access to healthcare. Younger people reported better self-rated health and higher physical activity than older adults, but they also faced financial and housing difficulties, job insecurity, and high levels of unmet medical needs – particularly among young women and those living in urban areas. The findings underline the importance of addressing the wider social and economic conditions shaping the health of younger generations.
Together, these reports provide policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders with evidence-based insights into how Europe’s young people are navigating both the digital transformation and broader health and wellbeing challenges.
Both data summaries draw on findings from the European Social Survey (ESS), the European Quality of Life Survey (Eurofound), and the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP), among others. They are the first outputs in a series of five reports, with forthcoming publications to cover Equal, Green, and Strong.
📄 Read the reports: