The Apolitical Foundation and insights and advisory firm GlobeScan have uncovered an untapped swell of aspiring leaders waiting to make political change. This article looks at people’s political ambitions around the world, the barriers that are stopping some of them from running, and initiatives poised to support the next generation of bold, transformative leaders.
Key Figures:
1 in 4 people have already run, are going to run, or are considering running for office.
36% of people aged 30 and under have already run, say they’re going to run, or are considering running for office.
In Africa and the Middle East, 41% of people have either run, say they’re going to run, or are considering running for office.
People with "a lot of trust in government" more likely to have at least considered running for office (44%) than those with "no trust in government at all" (20%).
Over 28,000 across 29 countries took part in the survey.
People who answered that they were “considering running for office but had not yet done so” were then asked about barriers to their candidacy.
A lack of financial resources (45%) was the leading barrier to running, closely followed by not knowing “how to begin” (37%).
43% of people aged 30 and under said they didn’t know “how to begin”, compared to 34% of people older than 30.
A lack of financial resources was chosen by 66% of respondents from Africa and the Middle East, 44% of Latin Americans and 42% of North Americans who said they were considering running for office, but hadn’t yet.
1 in 4 across the globe said they were worried about the effects that running for office would have on their mental wellbeing.
Physical violence was a barrier globally, with 17% of those surveyed marking it as a concern.
The results were similar for men and women, except more men (50%) chose financial barriers than women (41%).
Youth and Those from Global Majority Regions are Especially Interested in Elected Office.
Overall, more than 1 in 4 of the 28,191 people surveyed across 29 markets said they were at least considering running for office. To put things in perspective, there are only 44,000 national parliamentarians in the world—just half the capacity of London's Wembley Stadium. Even a small percentage of those interested in getting into office have the potential to change the political landscape.
The percentage was even bigger among young people and in some geographies. Thirty-six percent of people 30 and under said they were interested in or committed to running for office. Respondents from Latin America, and Africa and the Middle East were significantly more likely to say they were considering running for office, had already run, or are going to run in the future.
What’s Stopping People from Running?
The survey separated out respondents who said they were considering running for office but had not yet done so and asked what had stopped them.
Lack of financial resources was the leading barrier to running for office, closely followed by not knowing “how to begin.” Forty-five percent of respondents around the world said they “don’t have the financial resources.” The figure was 66% in Africa and the Middle East.
“The fact that two-thirds of aspiring leaders in Africa and the Middle East are held back by financial concerns underscores the urgent need for greater support systems that make public office accessible to all.” — Daniel Sachs, Founder & CEO, Daniel Sachs Foundation
Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they did not “know how to begin.” This was especially the case among young people, with 44% of 18-24-year-olds citing this as an issue.
“In Asia, we have experienced a growing interest in entering public office. However, for young people considering running for office, not knowing how to begin is a key barrier. My initiative Access Polity, a politico-tech platform for enabling opportunities and learning pathways into politics, works to address this gap.” — Kanksshi Agarwal, Founder and CEO of NETRI Foundation
Mental wellbeing was a concern for one in four respondents, echoing findings from Apolitical Foundation’s Mere Mortals: The State of Mental Wellbeing of Politicians and Why it Matters (2023). Nearly 90 politicians surveyed for that report had worse mental wellbeing scores than emergency service workers in a separate study.
Physical violence was a concern, especially in Africa and the Middle East, where 25% of those considering running chose it as a barrier.
'’The heightened concern over physical violence in Africa highlights a critical barrier to political engagement. Tackling these issues is fundamental to ensuring a safe and supportive atmosphere for effective political leadership and reform. This is because “a safe and supportive environment empowers leaders to innovate, experiment, and thrive.” — Alero Ayida-Otobo, CEO of SPPG Africa.
Initiatives Making Political Leadership More Sustainable for More People
A growing movement of people and organizations around the world are working to reduce the barriers to office, supporting political leaders ability to be impactful and overall humanizing and driving excellence in politics.
Political leadership incubators (PLIs), like those founded with the help of the non-partisan Apolitical Foundation Accelerator, give community, private sector, and advocacy leaders considering running for office a place to start. More information on PLIs can be found in Apolitical Foundation’s Better Leaders, Better Democracies: Mapping the Organizations Shaping 21st Century Politicians (2022) report.
“After going through our programs, our participants strengthen their sense of purpose and agency through their understanding of the role they need to play, individually and collectively, in protecting our democracy.” — Augusto Townsend Klinge, CEO of Recambio
“In Africa, many are unsure how to begin their political journey. AWPL exists to address this issue, through connecting women leaders, building capacity, and providing practical training.” — Nii Amar Laryea, Co-Founder of African Women in Political Leadership (AWPL)
Find out more via this list of almost 80 organizations supporting politicians across the Political Leadership Impact Path and collection of trailblazing initiatives working on leaders’ mental wellbeing.
“It's inspiring to see so many people, especially young leaders, eager to step into public office, yet deeply troubling that barriers like financial strain and mental wellbeing concerns hold them back. Political leaders are human, and these challenges are real. At the non-partisan Apolitical Foundation, we're committed to helping these aspiring leaders find their path but thrive in their roles. The world needs leaders who represent us all—and it's time we make that possible.” — Apolitical Foundation Co-Founder and CEO, Lisa Witter.
Survey and Methodology
For this survey, we collected responses from around 1,000 adults in 29 different countries. In some places, like Hong Kong, Kenya, Nigeria, and Singapore, we surveyed about 500 people, while in Brazil and the US, we asked 1,500. The people we surveyed represent the online population of their countries, and we made sure to adjust the results so they reflect the general population using census data. The survey was conducted online during July and August 2024.
About the Apolitical Foundation
The Apolitical Foundation is updating representative political leadership for the 21st century through a worldwide non-partisan movement. We envision a world in which political leaders are one of the most respected roles in society. We know we don’t have all the answers and are always looking for new partners.
About GlobeScan
GlobeScan is a global insights and advisory firm helping companies, NGOs, and governmental organizations know their world and create strategies to lead a sustainable and equitable future.
Established in 1987, we have offices in Cape Town, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, London, Paris, San Francisco, São Paulo, Singapore, and Toronto. GlobeScan is a Certified B Corp and a participant of the United Nations Global Compact.
Learn more here
Prepared by Laura McDermott