Gen Z: Statistics, Data and Trends (2024)

Generation Z also commonly known as “Gen Z” is a generation where people were born between 1997 to 2012. The youngest individuals in Gen Z are still in school, while the oldest are passing out college and entering the workforce. People born in this generation have been raised on the internet, social media, and modern technology. Today, one-third of the social media influencers are Gen Z. In this article, we are going to take a look at Gen Z: Statistics, Data, and Trends of 2024.  

Top Gen Z Statistics

• Currently, there are 68.6 million of the Gen Z population living in the United States.
• 54% of Gen Z spend 4 hours or more daily using social media. 
• Gen Z makes up about 30% of the world population today and is also expected to account for 27% of the workforce by 2025. 
• 98% of Gen Z people have a smartphone. 
• 77% of Gen Z believe in having a good work-life balance in their life. 
• More than one-third of social media influencers today are Gen Z. 
• 64% of users access Instagram at least once a day. 
• 40% of working Gen Z claim they want to leave their job in the next 2 years. 
• One of the major fears of Gen Z today is climate change. 
• The majority of Gen Z supports an inclusive society.

Gen Z Statistics Demographics

The demographics of Gen Z are different from the rest of the generation as people belonging to Gen Z fall under the category of people born between 1997-2012. Therefore, a large portion of Gen Z are still in school while the other half have entered adulthood and started to get married and have families. So, let’s take a look at the top statistics of Gen Z demographics: 

Around 68.6 million Gen Zers are living in the United States

Today, there are more than 68 million alone in the US which is overall 20% of the population in the United States.

By 2026, the majority of the Gen Z population will be non-white in the United States

In 2019, 52% of Gen Z living in the US were non-Hispanic white individuals. But with growing immigration in the country, the numbers witness a decrease and it is predicted that these numbers will keep on decreasing in the next two years by 2026, the majority numbers of the Gen Z population will be non-white individuals and 22% of the Gen Z will have at least one immigrant parent in the household in the US. 

50% of Gen Z adults are enrolled in universities

Gen Z is known as the most educated generation and one of the reasons behind this change is Millennials or their parents being educated. About 44% of Gen Z today live with parents who have a degree in 2019. Which is excellent for the betterment of the future as the nation is becoming more educated and responsible. 

38% of the Gen Z have already entered the workplace 

As we know, Gen Z is a unique generation as young Gen Z are still in school with 51% being students. While the older individuals belonging to Gen Z have already entered adulthood and have started working jobs. Another trait witnessed among Gen Z is delay in starting families. Apparently, only 11% of Gen Z are currently married or have children, which is the lowest in comparison to other generations. 

Generation Z Workforce Statistics

Now that we know a reasonable amount of Gen Zers have entered the workforce or have started part-time jobs or internships. Let’s look at some of the top statistics of Gen Z related to the workforce: 

3 in 10 Gen Z feel they aren’t financially secure 

One of the major issues faced by Gen Z today in the workplace is stress towards the financial future. Apparently, 46% of Gen Z have stated they are living paycheck-to-paycheck. While 26% of working Gen Z believe that they will be unable to earn and save a good amount for their retirement. The financial stress among Gen Z is believed to be one of the major reasons why today 43% of Gen Z have a second job. 

40% of Gen Z have stated they want to leave their job in the next 2 years 

Gen Z have a different attitude and approach towards the workforce and they are more likely to engage in the Great Resignation in comparison to other generations. About 40% of Gen Z individuals have claimed they would leave their job in the next 2 years in comparison to millennials of 24%. Apparently, 35% of Gen Z have stated they would still resign from their job even if another job isn’t lined up for them at the moment. 

Good work-life balance top factor for working Gen Z 

Unlike other generations, Gen Z prefers a good work-life balance as the top reason behind working for an employer with 32%. Apart from this, learning and development are considered the second most crucial reasons behind Gen Z working with 29% and a good salary with 24% for a better future. Positive workplace culture is demanded by 23% and lastly career opportunities by 23%. 

3 in 4 working Gen Z say they prefer working in a hybrid or remote mode 

The majority of Gen Z started working through remote mode due to the global pandemic in 2020 which changed the working standard for many workers as it provides more time with family, eliminates the traveling duration, and also helps with mental health conditions for many people. Today 63% of workers say they prefer to work in the hybrid mode while 12% have stated they want to work remotely instead of coming to the office every day. 

The number one goal for every 1 in 5 Gen Zs today is to be financially 

independent by 30 

Around 22% of working Gen Zs have claimed their biggest aim is to become financially independent by the age of 30. While 15% say they want to work in a career that is completely fulfilling to them and 11% have stated their major goal is to be surrounded by their loved ones. 

Top Gen Z Trends for 2024

Gen Z is known as the largest generation in the United States as they belong to 27% of the population. Therefore, Gen Z has huge control and power in the present and the future. To understand this Gen Z at a better scale let’s take a look at the top trends set by Gen Z in 2024. 

1. Accepting Diversity 

Gen Z is considered the most ethnically diverse generation. According to reports by Pew 48% of the Gen Zers belong to racial and ethnic minorities. What really sets Gen Z apart from other generations is not only its ethnic diversity but also its strong belief and commitment to increasing diversity in society for the betterment of the world. Around 62% of Gen Zers think that bringing diversity is good for society.

Apart from diversity, Gen Z also emphasizes inclusion and social justice. According to a survey, it was stated that Gen Z Republicans had a higher rate of stating that Blacks aren’t treated as equally as whites in the United States today in comparison to other Republicans. In fact, there was also a poll by Yubo, which reported that 88% of Gen Zers believed that Blacks apparently did not receive fair treatment in society. The poll also stated that 4 in 5 Gen Zers were in support of Black Lives Matter. 

2. Driven By Digital

Gen Z are considered “Digital Natives” as they grew up in a time where the world is highly influenced by the internet and advanced technology. When it comes to owning technology, statistics show that 95% of Gen Z have a smartphone, 83% have a laptop, and about 78% have an internet-connected console. In comparison to other generations, Gen Z is the most exposed generation to technology. 

The average age of Millennials getting their first cell phone was 20, while it changed for younger millennials and they got their first cell phone at the age of 16. But Gen Z got exposed to tech at a very young age and the average age of a Gen Zer owning a cell phone today is 12. The trends related to Gen Z showcase the generation is becoming more and more centered toward advanced technology and the internet. In Fact, one survey also shows that 50% of Gen Zers feel weird or uncomfortable without their smartphone in comparison to their wallet. 

3. Bringing back early 2000s trends 

Gen Z is highly nostalgic over 2000 trends as the generation falls between Millennials and Gen Alpha. Recently they have been bringing back a few iconic fashion looks and culture of the 2000s back in trend. The hashtag “y2k” has a massive buzz on social media with more than 3 million posts on Instagram itself. Today, Gen Z wants old products with an inch of new focus on social awareness and sustainability. In Fact, the demand for early 2000s trends is so high that in 2021, Juicy Couture brought their iconic tracksuit back. Apart from this, low-rise jeans are also gaining recognition and have been back in trend by Gen Zers.

Gen Z and Social Media 

Gen Z is raised in the world of social media and the younger generation often spends a lot of time browsing through different social media apps. While Millennials also have a reputation of being extremely influenced by social networking as well, particularly Gen Z are not using these platforms for socializing like Millennials. Instead, Gen Z is browsing through Instagram, Facebook, and other social networking sites for entertainment, finding new brands, accessing information, and more. Now let’s take a look at the top statistics of Gen Z related to Social Media: 

• 85% of Gen Z browse through different social media platforms to look for new products and services.
• 80% of teen Gen Z believe that YouTube is an essential platform that helps them learn. 
• Gen Z will be the first generation that will have little to almost no memory of the world without smartphones or technology. 
• Today one-third of the influencers are Gen Z itself. 
• 64% of Gen Z use Instagram at least once a day. 
• For social activities, Gen Z prefers Instagram over TikTok. 
• 55% of Gen Z believe that YouTube has had an impact on their education. 

Top 3 social media apps preferred by adult Gen Z (18 to 23 years old) 

Now that we know social media plays a significant role in Gen Z day to day life let’s take a look at the most preferred social media platforms by Gen Z adults: 

Gen Z Mental Health Statistics 

Mental Health is currently one of the major issues faced by Gen Z. A large portion of individuals are today struggling when entering adulthood as millions of Gen Z are struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and various other difficulties. Below we have mentioned some of the top statistics related to Gen Z mental health to provide you with a clear idea of the difficulties faced by individuals today:  

3 in 5 Gen Z feel anxious and nervous for more than 2 weeks 

According to reports, 43% of Gen Zs (between the ages of 15 to 25) claim they feel depressed, anxious, and hopeless which is almost twice in comparison to older generations. 

1 in 5 Gen Z students in high school have at least once considered suicide

Mental Health is a serious issue faced by a large number of Gen Z today, not only by adults but also by those who are still studying in high school. According to reports, 18.8% of Gen Z students have struggled with suicidal ideation. While 15.7% have thought about suicide and 8.9% have actually committed suicide. 

45% of Gen Z claim their mental health is good 

When it comes to mental health, the number of Gen Zs facing mental health crises is extremely high in comparison to other generations. 18% of individuals have stated they have anxiety issues while 23% have claimed to be facing depression in their life. Overall, only 45% of Gen Z have openly stated they don’t face any difficulty when it comes to their mental health. 

Gen Z has a higher chance of receiving mental health therapy compared to other generations 

A good thing about this generation is that people are starting to take mental health issues seriously and hence the attention towards therapy and mental health treatment has increased with Gen Z trying to create more awareness regarding the issues worldwide. Apparently, 35% of Gen Z have received mental health treatment. While the ratio is only 26% for Gen X and 22% for Baby Boomers. 

Wrapping Up 

Overall, Gen Z can be described as a generation that is truly high in terms of technology and social issues such as mental health, equality, etc. Gen Z is predicted to be the most well-educated generation in history. Today, Gen Z has good opportunities in terms of technology, education, and development. At the same time, Gen Z is facing difficulties in their day-to-day lives due to job dissatisfaction and mental health concerns. The true impact of Gen Z will be witnessed in the next few years showcasing their true potential in the world.