A new regional survey of young people has found deep dissatisfaction across four Pacific Island nations with how development, poverty relief and human rights are being handled — even as many respondents indicate a willingness to engage in political life. Conducted online between March and April 2026, the questionnaire captured views mainly from 18-to-25-year-olds in Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Samoa, offering a snapshot of the next generation of voters and civic actors.
Overall, 59 percent of respondents disagreed that the benefits of development have been fairly distributed in their countries, with just 15 percent agreeing. The perception of unequal distribution was strongest in the Solomon Islands (71 percent), followed by Fiji (57 percent), Tuvalu (55 percent) and Samoa (46 percent). One Solomon Islands respondent summed up the sentiment: “The benefits of development have not been fairly distributed.” A Fijian respondent pointed to urban bias: “Rural and remote island communities are left behind. Development is mostly done in urban areas.”
The survey also found widespread scepticism about government action on poverty and rights. Some 62 percent said their governments have not taken adequate measures to combat poverty. Only 32 percent of all respondents said human rights are protected in their country; 43 percent said they are not, while 25 percent were unsure. When asked about obstacles to human rights, 32 percent cited culture and tradition as the single biggest challenge — a view illustrated by a Samoan comment that “elders and matai take advantage of their titles to silence the rights of the young.” Lack of education (24 percent), lack of political will (15 percent) and gender discrimination (11 percent) were the next most cited barriers.
Gender and political inclusion emerged as particular fault lines. Sixty-nine percent rated women’s participation in civic and political affairs as fair, poor or very poor; only seven percent rated women’s participation as very good. On political leadership, 56 percent of respondents said leaders appear to be looking after themselves or the rich, with the view strongest in the Solomon Islands (67 percent), then Fiji (56 percent), Samoa (55 percent) and lowest in Tuvalu (39 percent). A majority — 56 percent — felt that only a few people (politicians, wealthy business owners, chiefs and members of parliament) have a say in decision‑making, and only 44 percent said everyone in their country is encouraged to participate in political processes.
The survey also gauged sentiment toward sitting prime ministers. Tuvalu respondents were the most positive, with 48 percent rating their prime minister good or very good, while 53 percent of Solomon Islanders rated Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele bad or very bad. In Samoa, 45 percent rated their prime minister bad or very bad. In Fiji, 34 percent rated Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka bad or very bad and 25 percent rated him good or very good — responses that included both praise for re‑establishing traditional pathways and criticism that he “doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
The findings arrive as Pacific governments are rolling out youth and social programmes — for example, Fiji launched a four‑year plan in March aimed at curbing youth drug use and expanding youth services — but the survey suggests a gulf between policy announcements and youth perceptions on distributional fairness, rights protection and political accountability. As the region’s younger citizens prepare to assume greater roles in civic life, the data underline both the risks posed by persistent distrust and the potential for youth engagement to shape future policy debates.