Africa has the youngest population in the world. Among the 35 countries with the lowest median age worldwide, only three fall outside the continent. In 2023, the median age in Niger was 15.1 years, the youngest country. This means that at this age point, half of the population was younger and half older. A young population reflects several demographic characteristics of a country. For instance, together with a high population growth, life expectancy in Western Africa is low: this reached 58 years for men and 60 for women in 2024. Overall, Africa has the lowest life expectancy in the world.

Africa’s population is still growing Africa’s population growth can be linked to a high fertility rate, along with a drop in death rates. Despite the fertility rate on the continent following a constant declining trend, it remains far higher compared to all other regions worldwide. It was forecast to reach 4.02 children per woman, compared to a worldwide average of 2.25 children per woman in 2024. Furthermore, the crude death rate in Africa overall dropped, only increasing slightly during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The largest populations on the continent Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the most populous African countries. In 2025, people living in Nigeria amounted to over 237 million, while the number for the three other countries exceeded 100 million each. Of those, the Democratic Republic of Congo sustained the fourth-highest fertility rate in Africa in 2023. Nigeria and Ethiopia also had high rates, with 4.48 and 3.99 births per woman, respectively. Although such a high fertility rate is expected to slow down, it will still impact the population structure, growing younger nations.

Globally, about 25 percent of the population is under 15 years of age and 10 percent is over 65 years of age. Africa has the youngest population worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 40 percent of the population is below 15 years, and only three percent are above 65, indicating the low life expectancy in several of the countries. In Europe, on the other hand, a higher share of the population is above 65 years than the population under 15 years. Fertility rates The high share of children and youth in Africa is connected to the high fertility rates on the continent. For instance, South Sudan and Niger have the highest population growth rates globally. However, about 50 percent of the world’s population live in countries with low fertility, where women have less than 2.1 children. Some countries in Europe, like Latvia and Lithuania, have experienced a population decline of one percent, and in the Cook Islands, it is even above two percent. In Europe, the majority of the population was previously working-aged adults with few dependents, but this trend is expected to reverse soon, and it is predicted that by 2050, the older population will outnumber the young in many developed countries. Growing global population As of 2025, there are 8.1 billion people living on the planet, and this is expected to reach more than nine billion before 2040. Moreover, the global population is expected to reach 10 billions around 2060, before slowing and then even falling slightly by 2100. As the population growth rates indicate, a significant share of the population increase will happen in Africa.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the data for the Normal, IL population pyramid, which represents the Normal population distribution across age and gender, using estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. It lists the male and female population for each age group, along with the total population for those age groups. Higher numbers at the bottom of the table suggest population growth, whereas higher numbers at the top indicate declining birth rates. Furthermore, the dataset can be utilized to understand the youth dependency ratio, old-age dependency ratio, total dependency ratio, and potential support ratio.

Key observations

• Youth dependency ratio, which is the number of children aged 0-14 per 100 persons aged 15-64, for Normal, IL, is 18.7.
• Old-age dependency ratio, which is the number of persons aged 65 or over per 100 persons aged 15-64, for Normal, IL, is 14.6.
• Total dependency ratio for Normal, IL is 33.3.
• Potential support ratio, which is the number of youth (working age population) per elderly, for Normal, IL is 6.8.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group for the Normal population analysis. Total expected values are 18 and are define above in the age groups section.
• Population (Male): The male population in the Normal for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Population (Female): The female population in the Normal for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Total Population: The total population of the Normal for the selected age group is shown in the following column.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Normal Population by Age. You can refer the same here

The indicator represents the age at which 50 % of the population no longer live in a household with their parent(s) (Source: EU-LFS).

This map shows median age in the US by country, state, county, tract, and congressional district for 2023. ArcGIS Online account required for use.The pop-up is configured to show median age, median age by sex, child age (under 18) population, senior age (over 65) population, the age dependency ratio, and population by 5 year age increments. Blending is used at the Tract level to highlight areas of human settlement. Congressional district is turned off by default and can be enabled in the Layers pane.Esri 2023 Age Dependency Ratio is the estimated ratio of the child population (Age 0-17) and senior population (Age 65+) to the working-age population (Age 18-64) in the geographic area. This ratio is then multiplied by 100. Higher ratios denote that a greater burden is carried by working-age people. Lower ratios mean more people are working who can support the dependent population. Read more. See Updated Demographics for more information on Esri Demographic variables.Esri Updated Demographics represent the suite of annually updated U.S. demographic data that provides current-year and five-year forecasts for more than two thousand demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, a subset of which is included in this layer. Included are a host of tables covering key characteristics of the population, households, housing, age, race, income, and much more. Esri's Updated Demographics data consists of point estimates, representing July 1 of the current and forecast years.Esri Updated Demographics DocumentationMethodologyUnderstanding Esri’s Updated Demographics portfolioEssential Esri Demographics vocabularyThis ready-to-use layer can be used within ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, its configurable apps, dashboards, Story Maps, custom apps, and mobile apps. This layer requires an ArcGIS Online subscription and does not consume credits. Please cite Esri when using this data. For information about purchasing additional Esri's Updated Demographics data, contact datasales@esri.com. Feedback: we would like to hear from you while this layer is in beta release. If you have any feedback regarding this item or Esri Demographics, please use this survey.

The Division of Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) was created to consolidate child abuse prevention and juvenile delinquency prevention and early intervention programs within the jurisdiction of a single state agency. Consolidation of these programs is intended to eliminate fragmentation and duplication of contracted prevention and early intervention services for at-risk children, youth, and families: Community Youth Development (CYD) - The CYD program contracts with community-based organizations to develop juvenile delinquency prevention programs in ZIP codes with high juvenile crime rates. Approaches used by communities to prevent delinquency have included mentoring, youth employment programs, career preparation, youth leadership development and recreational activities. Communities prioritize and fund specific prevention services according to local needs. CYD services are available in 15 targeted Texas ZIP codes. Family and Youth Success Program (FAYS) (formerly Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR)) - The FAYS program contracts with community agencies to offer family crisis intervention counseling, short- term emergency respite care, and individual and family counseling. Youth up to age 17 and their families are eligible if they experience conflict at home, truancy or delinquency, or a youth who runs away from home. FAYS services are available in all 254 Texas counties. Each FAYS contractor also provides universal child abuse prevention services, ranging from local media campaigns to informational brochures and parenting classes. Statewide Youth Services Network (SYSN) - The SYSN program contracts provide community and evidence-based juvenile delinquency prevention programs focused on youth ages 10 through 17, in each DFPS region. NOTE: For FY15, as a result of a new procurement, the overall number of youth served decreased however the service requirements were enhanced with additional programmatic components. Data as of December 11, 2024.

Estimated number of persons on July 1, by 5-year age groups and gender, and median age, for Canada, provinces and territories.

Costa Rica CR: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data was reported at 28.671 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 29.267 % for 2022. Costa Rica CR: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data is updated yearly, averaging 59.075 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 90.563 % in 1963 and a record low of 28.671 % in 2023. Costa Rica CR: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.;World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2022 Revision.;Weighted average;

The Basque Youth Observatory is an instrument of the Basque Government that allows to have a global and permanent vision of the situation and evolution of the youth world that allows to evaluate the impact of the actions carried out in the CAPV by the different administrations in the field of youth.The Basque Youth Observatory regularly publishes more than 100 statistical indicators that can be consulted in euskadi.eus, along with other research and reports. Statistics are provided in various formats (csv, excel).

Jordan JO: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data was reported at 58.507 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 59.207 % for 2016. Jordan JO: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data is updated yearly, averaging 85.299 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 102.410 % in 1980 and a record low of 58.507 % in 2017. Jordan JO: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Jordan – Table JO.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

Estimate, Median Age by Sex, Total Population (5-year estimate) in Young County, TX was 40.70000 Years of Age in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Estimate, Median Age by Sex, Total Population (5-year estimate) in Young County, TX reached a record high of 42.60000 in January of 2013 and a record low of 40.30000 in January of 2022. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Estimate, Median Age by Sex, Total Population (5-year estimate) in Young County, TX - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

In 2024, the median age in Maine, the nation’s oldest state, reached 44.9 years. The U.S. state with the lowest median age was Utah, at 32.1 years. Nationwide, the median age has been increasing in recent decades, marking the nation’s aging population. The United States aging population The post-war baby boom, marked by robust birth rates, gave way to lower fertility and mortality rates in subsequent decades. This has shifted the country’s demographic profile. The United States is not alone in this. Aging is now a global trend, reshaping economies and societies alike. Retirement’s uncertain promise Retirement once promised leisure after years of work and saving. That promise is looking less certain as fewer Americans now believe their savings will last them through retirement. Roughly 30 percent of retirees still work for pay, a proportion that has held steady even as optimism has faded. An aging America will force policymakers and citizens alike to confront uncomfortable trade-offs between work, retirement, and the promise of security.

This map shows median age in the US by country, state, county, tract, and congressional district for 2023. ArcGIS Online account required for use.The pop-up is configured to show median age, median age by sex, child age (under 18) population, senior age (over 65) population, the age dependency ratio, and population by 5 year age increments. Blending is used at the Tract level to highlight areas of human settlement. Congressional district is turned off by default and can be enabled in the Layers pane.Esri 2023 Age Dependency Ratio is the estimated ratio of the child population (Age 0-17) and senior population (Age 65+) to the working-age population (Age 18-64) in the geographic area. This ratio is then multiplied by 100. Higher ratios denote that a greater burden is carried by working-age people. Lower ratios mean more people are working who can support the dependent population. Read more. See Updated Demographics for more information on Esri Demographic variables.Esri Updated Demographics represent the suite of annually updated U.S. demographic data that provides current-year and five-year forecasts for more than two thousand demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, a subset of which is included in this layer. Included are a host of tables covering key characteristics of the population, households, housing, age, race, income, and much more. Esri's Updated Demographics data consists of point estimates, representing July 1 of the current and forecast years.Esri Updated Demographics DocumentationMethodologyUnderstanding Esri’s Updated Demographics portfolioEssential Esri Demographics vocabularyThis ready-to-use layer can be used within ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, its configurable apps, dashboards, Story Maps, custom apps, and mobile apps. This layer requires an ArcGIS Online subscription and does not consume credits. Please cite Esri when using this data. For information about purchasing additional Esri's Updated Demographics data, contact datasales@esri.com. Feedback: we would like to hear from you while this layer is in beta release. If you have any feedback regarding this item or Esri Demographics, please use this survey.

United States US: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data was reported at 28.799 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28.857 % for 2016. United States US: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data is updated yearly, averaging 33.422 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.329 % in 1961 and a record low of 28.799 % in 2017. United States US: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

The Basque Youth Observatory is an instrument of the Basque Government that allows to have a global and permanent vision of the situation and evolution of the youth world that allows to evaluate the impact of the actions carried out in the CAPV by the different administrations in the field of youth.The Basque Youth Observatory regularly publishes more than 100 statistical indicators that can be consulted in euskadi.eus, along with other research and reports. Statistics are provided in various formats (csv, excel).

Canada CA: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Total: % of Youth Population data was reported at 11.735 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.599 % for 2022. Canada CA: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Total: % of Youth Population data is updated yearly, averaging 14.127 % from Dec 1976 (Median) to 2023, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.956 % in 1982 and a record low of 11.599 % in 2022. Canada CA: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Total: % of Youth Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Share of youth not in education, employment or training (NEET) is the proportion of young people who are not in education, employment, or training to the population of the corresponding age group: youth (ages 15 to 24); persons ages 15 to 29; or both age groups.;International Labour Organization. “Labour Force Statistics database (LFS)” ILOSTAT. Accessed January 07, 2025. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.;Weighted average;

Georgia: Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2022 is 100 percent, an increase from 99.92 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 90.52 percent, based on data from 65 countries. Historically, the average for Georgia from 2002 to 2022 is 99.98 percent. The minimum value, 99.92 percent, was reached in 2018 while the maximum of 100 percent was recorded in 2002.

Japan: Youth unemployment, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2024 is 3.92 percent, a decline from 4.12 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 15.70 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Japan from 1991 to 2024 is 6.75 percent. The minimum value, 3.67 percent, was reached in 2018 while the maximum of 10.2 percent was recorded in 2003.

The indicator represents the age at which 50 % of the population no longer live in a household with their parent(s) (Source: EU-LFS).

This statistic shows the average age youths aged 12 to 20 years first drank alcohol in the U.S. from 1991 to 2015. In the period 2013 to 2015, on average those aged 12 to 20 years first drank alcohol when they were 14.64 years old.