why politics is the fastest growing subject

This year’s A-level results show a significant increase in the number of students choosing to study politics. In fact, politics saw the largest year-on-year increase of all A-level subjects in the UK, with entries up 11.9% this year compared with 2025.

This is an additional 2,639 students – up from 22,185 to 24,824. Politics still accounts for only 3% of all A-levels studied across the UK in 2026. This increase comes on the back of increases in demand for over a decade. Politics is one of the fastest-growing A-levels – up 81% in the UK since 2010.

Who studies politics?

There is an interesting phenomenon going on in terms of who is choosing to study politics. In 2022, the subject marked an important watershed when, for the first time, more women than men studied politics across the UK. A significant change for a historically male-majority subject.

The trend of a small female majority has continued year on year. In 2026, though, the gender split is almost 50-50.

This change in gender demographics over time is quite distinct from the trajectory of many other social science subjects. Psychology has remained strongly female-majority, while economics and business studies are male-majority subjects.

For young women, there may be several distinct factors at play. First, increased interest may be linked to recent changes to the A-level syllabus. A study found that young women placed greater importance than young men on topics such as human rights, elections and voting, climate change and inequality. These are all topics that feature in the revised 2017 politics syllabus, which covers a wider range of political ideas and global issues than previously.

In addition – while somewhat harder to assess – it seems that social media is playing a role in enabling greater engagement and awareness of political issues and debates among young women. This may be because online debates about issues that resonate with young women, including women’s rights, may be encouraging interest in politics.

This would chime with research showing that traditional classroom discussions are less effective in developing “political self-efficacy” (how much a person believes in their ability to understand and make change through politics) among girls than boys aged 11-16. This suggests that factors outside the classroom, such as social media, may be fuelling increased interest.

Why are teens choosing politics?

According to the British Academy, students taking A-level politics in England tend to come from wealthier families compared with the norm for A-level students. Historically, A-level politics has been a popular, and widely offered, subject at private schools.

Yet recent data shows that the number of state-funded schools in England offering A-level politics has risen. More state-funded sixth forms and secondary schools offering the subject suggest that greater accessibility may be a factor in the rise in uptake.

There are most likely multiple reasons for the rise in demand for the politics A-level over the last 15 years. Factors such as ongoing global conflicts, climate change and the increased volatility of national politics, such as the UK’s six prime ministers in the last decade, have increased interest in and the desire to understand how we are governed and what triggers global political change. The proposed lowering of the voting age to 16 may also have prompted increased interest in the subject among teenagers.

Research suggests that young people care deeply about social and political issues and that they are increasingly keen to understand the systems that affect their lives.

The growing popularity of politics A-level may reflect a generation that recognises that political literacy is no longer simply an advantage, but an essential part of active citizenship. But there is still more work to do to ensure that this growing demand is met. A recent report by the Electoral Commission found that 72% of young people believe schools and colleges should do more to teach politics, democracy and voting.

The challenge for politicians is to turn young people’s growing interest in politics into meaningful political participation. In the last general election only 40% of 18–24-year-olds voted, and just 20% of those were from lower socioeconomic groups. Parties that engage young people on issues they care about and involve them between elections are likely to be rewarded. Ultimately, politicians must move from speaking to young people to working with them.

Young people are not disengaged from politics but increasingly interested in understanding it. The challenge is to build on this interest, to create opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to pursue political studies education at school and university. It also means finding more diverse ways to support all young people to engage with and participate in politics.