TUVALU is often described as a place on the edge—of rising seas, of climate catastrophe, of disappearing altogether. But listen to its youngest citizens, and they will tell you that there are equally important and pertinent issues worthy of attention: unemployment, unequal development, and a growing sense that their voices are not really being heard.
A survey of young Tuvaluans has painted a complicated picture of wanting to believe in leadership but is struggling to.
The survey, carried out between March and April this year, wherein a link was circulated to a range of questions gauging sentiments on governance. It reached people from all nine inhabited islands. More than half of those who took part were students, and the majority were female.
Work is the real problem
When asked what pushed families into poverty in Tuvalu, three out of four respondents gave the same answer: No jobs.
Seventy-six per cent identified unemployment as the leading cause of poverty. That was followed by economic instability (46 per cent) and lack of education (41 per cent).
A young person from Nukufetau, one of the more remote outer islands, put it plainly in an open-ended response: “Development is more concentrated in Funafuti than the outer islands. Outer island people do not have the same benefits.”
Funafuti, the capital, is where most government offices are. It is where the main hospital is. It is where the jobs are. It’s where it’s all happening. The hope is that this can be translated to outer islands as well.
Forty-four per cent of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that the benefits of development have been shared fairly across the country. Only a quarter agreed.
Leaders know what they are doing – but not for everyone
When asked to rate Prime Minister Feleti Teo, the numbers were not unkind. Of all respondents, 29 per cent said he was doing a “good” job, and 26 per cent said “very good”. Only 11 per cent rated him bad or very bad.
But behind those numbers lies a more complicated emotion.
Respondents were asked how political leadership made them feel. Only 26 per cent said leaders know what they are doing. Twenty-one per cent said they feel confident about the future. But 18 per cent said leaders only look after the rich. Fifteen per cent said leaders only look after themselves. And 12 per cent said they are simply worried.
One number stands out: 38 per cent of respondents—and an even higher proportion of the younger respondents—believe only a few people have a real say in how the country is run. They named members of Parliament, those with position, wealthy individuals, and government officials as the ones who truly matter.
Spend less on travel, more on us
The survey also asked young people how they would spend public money if they had the choice. Answers were informative:
More spending on healthcare (58 per cent), education (52 per cent), outer island development (45 per cent), and infrastructure (38 per cent).
Less spending on government travel and overseas trips (52 per cent), ministerial allowances and vehicles (48 per cent), and non-essential administrative costs (35 per cent).
Only a quarter of respondents agreed that public funds are managed efficiently. A third disagreed.
Voting yes, but trusting slowly
Despite the scepticism, voting intention is surprisingly high. Nearly 70 per cent said they plan to vote in the next national election. Among the 18-to-25 age group, that figure rises to almost 80 per cent.
Civic duty, the right to choose leaders, and a desire for change were the main reasons given.
Fifteen per cent said they will not vote. Some cited a lack of interest. Others said they live overseas. And some said they simply do not trust the system.
Culture, rights, and speaking freely
Perhaps the most interesting finding was on human rights. Exactly half of respondents believe human rights are protected in Tuvalu. But 31 per cent were unsure, and 15 per cent said no.
When asked what stands in the way of greater human rights, the most common answer—chosen by 41 per cent—was “culture and tradition”. That was well ahead of “lack of education” (26 per cent).
That finding suggests a real tension that young Tuvaluans are navigating: valuing their traditions, but a frustration with constraints on individual expression.
Asked whether they feel free to express their opinions publicly, 58 per cent agreed or strongly agreed.
A warning in the data
The survey results are not at this stage a cause for alarm, but they do provide some direction.
Without action on jobs, outer island development, transparent governance, and meaningful political participation, Tuvalu risks losing its young people—either to Funafuti, overseas, or to apathy.
