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.

This statistic shows the countries with the lowest projected median age in 2050. By 2050, Niger is projected to have the population with the lowest median age at 19 years old.

In 2024, Italy was the European country with the oldest population, recording a median age of 48.7 years, closely ahead of Bulgaria and Portugal, with 47 years. In general, almost all European countries have a median age above 40 years old. Only Azerbaijan, Turkey, Armenia, and Kosovo had a median age below 35 years old. Kosovo was the youngest territory of the continent in terms of median age.

List of African countries by median age. Niger average age is 14.8, the youngest African country and the youngest country in the world. The African islands of Seychelles is the oldest African country with an average age of 36.8.

List of African countries by median age of the total population and male and female median ages. Niger with an average age of 14.8 years old is the youngest country in Africa and the youngest country in the world.

This graph displays the total population size of citizens aged from between 20 and 24 years old in Europe in 2018, by country. That year there were roughly *** million inhabitants of this age group in Germany, which was followed by the United Kingdom and France at **** million and **** million inhabitants respectively.

Kosovo, one of the youngest countries in an aging Europe, took its first steps on the road to greater prosperity a quarter of a century ago. Kosovo’s economy has experienced significant growth in recent years. The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered Kosovo’s first ever recession in 2020. While spending on education has more than doubled, the quality of human capital needs to improve. And barriers to women’s economic empowerment need to be lifted. Proximity to major markets in Europe and a youthful population provide an opportunity for growth. Kosovo is one of the youngest countries in an aging Europe. Trade facilitation and logistics connectivity are getting better. Proximity to a large and affluent market, low taxes and labor costs, a resilient and liquid financial sector, and strong ties with its diaspora will help support growth.

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.

license: apache-2.0 tags: - africa - sustainable-development-goals - world-health-organization - development

  Children and young people achieving a minimum proficiency level in reading (%) - Primary education





  Dataset Description

This dataset provides country-level data for the indicator "4.1.1 Children and young people achieving a minimum proficiency level in reading (%) - Primary education" across African nations, sourced from the World Health Organization's… See the full description on the dataset page: https://huggingface.co/datasets/electricsheepafrica/children-and-young-people-achieving-a-minimum-proficiency-le-for-african-countries.

Introduction

This data contains percentage of part-time employment of adults by sex, age groups, number of children and age of youngest child.

Details

• Created: 15.02.2023
• Updated: 12.06.2025
• Landing Page: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/product/page/lfst_hhptechi
• Publisher:
  • Name: Eurostat
  • Homepage: https://commission.europa.eu/about/departments-and-executive-agencies/euros...
• Contact Points:
  • Telephone: tel:+352430136789
  • Address: Joseph Bech building, 5 Rue Alphonse Weicker, L-2721 Luxembourg
• Url: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/help/support
• Catalogue Record:
• Added to data.europa.eu: 29 April 2022
• Updated on data.europa.eu: 28 August 2025

Spatial Resource:
Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/MKD Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/ROU Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/SRB Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/PRT Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/AUT Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/IRL Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/POL Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/ITA Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/LTU Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/SVN Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/DNK Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/CZE Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/BIH Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/MLT Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/NOR Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/EST Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/HRV Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/FIN Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/LUX Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/BGR Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/DEU Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/GBR Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/HUN Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/FRA Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/NLD Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/MNE Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/ESP Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/SWE Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/GRC Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/SVK Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/BEL Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/LVA Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/TUR Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/CYP Link: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/EUR

In 2023, the median age of the population in Thailand was **** years, which was the oldest median age across Southeast Asia. Comparatively, the median age of Timor-Leste's population was ** years in 2023.

This section presents statistical information on the educational variables that are collected in the Labour Force Survey of the National Institute of Statistics, as well as in the Community Labour Force Survey (Eurostat). The indicators of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (2021-2030) that derive from these sources are highlighted. The information is presented disaggregated by autonomous community and by country of the European Union, according to the source used, and with temporary developments since 2002.Line break The results are obtained as annual averages of quarterly data, so the information is updated annually, as the four quarters of the EPA are available, as well as the results derived from the Community survey of Eurostat. From the 2014 results of the EPA, the new National Classification of Education, CNED-2014, based on the International Standard Classification of Education, ISCED-2011, applied in the LFS, is applied; and from 2016, the update of the sectors/fields of study of both classifications (CNED-F and ISCED-F) is applied. These changes in the rankings represent a series break for some of the tables, as indicated in the accompanying notes.

Burkina Faso BF: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data was reported at 77.124 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 78.932 % for 2022. Burkina Faso BF: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data is updated yearly, averaging 87.529 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 95.822 % in 1993 and a record low of 69.305 % in 1960. Burkina Faso BF: 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 Burkina Faso – Table BF.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: 2024 Revision.;Weighted average;

Women and Men in Spain: Young population (20 to 24 years old) that have completed at least the 2nd stage of secondary education in the EU. CNED-2014. Annual. National.

Young immigrants by sex, age and country of birth

Abstract

Young Lives: An International Study of Childhood Poverty is a collaborative project investigating the changing nature of childhood poverty in selected developing countries. The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is funding the first three-year phase of the project.

Young Lives involves collaboration between Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the academic sector. In the UK, the project is being run by Save the Children-UK together with an academic consortium that comprises the University of Reading, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, South Bank University, the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University and the South African Medical Research Council.

The study is being conducted in Ethiopia, India (in Andhra Pradesh), Peru and Vietnam. These countries were selected because they reflect a range of cultural, geographical and social contexts and experience differing issues facing the developing world; high debt burden, emergence from conflict, and vulnerability to environmental conditions such as drought and flood.

Objectives of the study The Young Lives study has three broad objectives: • producing good quality panel data about the changing nature of the lives of children in poverty. • trace linkages between key policy changes and child poverty • informing and responding to the needs of policy makers, planners and other stakeholders There will also be a strong education and media element, both in the countries where the project takes place, and in the UK.

The study takes a broad approach to child poverty, exploring not only household economic indicators such as assets and wealth, but also child centred poverty measures such as the child’s physical and mental health, growth, development and education. These child centred measures are age specific so the information collected by the study will change as the children get older.

Further information about the survey, including publications, can be downloaded from the Young Lives website.

Geographic coverage

Young Lives is an international study of childhood poverty, involving 12,000 children in 4 countries. - Ethiopia (20 communities in Addis Ababa, Amhara, Oromia, and Southern National, Nationalities and People's Regions) - India (20 sites across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) - Peru (74 communities across Peru) - Vietnam (20 communities in the communes of Lao Cai in the north-west, Hung Yen province in the Red River Delta, the city of Danang on the coast, Phu Yen province from the South Central Coast and Ben Tre province on the Mekong River Delta)

Analysis unit

Individuals; Families/households

Universe

Location of Units of Observation: Cross-national; Subnational Population: Children aged approximately 1 year old and their households, and children aged 8 years old and their households, in Ethiopia, India (Andhra Pradesh), Peru and Vietnam, in 2002. See documentation for details of the exact regions covered in each country.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Purposive selection/case studies

A key need for the study's objectives was to obtain data at different levels - the children, their households, the community in which they resided, as well as at regional and national levels. This need thus determined that children should be selected in geographic clusters rather than randomly selected across the country. There was, however, a much more important reason for recruiting children in clusters - the sites are also intended to provide suitable settings for a range of complementary thematic studies. For example, one or a few sites may be used for a qualitative study designed to achieve a deeper level of understanding of some social issues, either because they are important in that particular place, or because the sites are appropriate locales to investigate a more general concern. The quantitative panel study is seen as the foundation upon which a coherent and interesting range of linked studies can be set up.

Thus the design was decided, in each country, comprising 20 geographic clusters with 100 children sampled in each cluster.

For details on sample design, see the methodological document which is available in the documentation.

Sampling deviation

Ethiopia: 1,999 (1-year-olds), 1,000 (8-year-olds); India: 2,011 (1-year-olds), 1,008 (8-year-olds); Peru: 2,052 (1-year-olds), 714 (8-year-olds); Vietnam: 2,000 (1-year-olds), 1,000 (8-year-olds).

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face interview

Research instrument

Every questionnaire used in the study consists of a 'core' element and a country-specific element, which focuses on issues important for that country.

The core element of the questionnaires consists of the following sections: Core 6-17.9 month old household questionnaire • Section 1: Locating information • Section 2: Household composition • Section 3: Pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding • Section 4: Child care • Section 5: Child health • Section 6: Caregiver background • Section 7: Livelihoods and time allocation • Section 8: Economic changes • Section 9: Socio-economic status • Section 10: Caregiver psychosocial well-being • Section 11: Social capital • Section 12: Tracking details • Section 13: Anthropometry

Core 7.5-8.5 year old household questionnaire • Section 1: Locating information • Section 2: Household composition • Section 3: Births and deaths • Section 4: Child school • Section 5: Child health • Section 6: Caregiver background • Section 7: Livelihoods and time allocation • Section 8: Economic changes • Section 9: Socio-economic status • Section 10: Child mental health • Section 11: Social capital • Section 12: Tracking details • Section 13: Anthropometry

The communnity questionnaire consists of the following sections: • Section 1: Physical environment • Section 2: Social environment • Section 3: Infrastructure and access • Section 4: Economy • Section 5: Health and education

Uzbekistan UZ: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data was reported at 41.430 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 41.332 % for 2016. Uzbekistan UZ: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data is updated yearly, averaging 73.540 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 93.209 % in 1968 and a record low of 41.332 % in 2016. Uzbekistan UZ: 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 Uzbekistan – Table UZ.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;

European Number of Young High Growth Enterprises (Gazelles) in Publishing by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

This round of Eurobarometer surveys diverged from a focus on standard measures. During the fieldwork for Eurobarometer 55.1 (see EUROBAROMETER 55.1: GLOBALIZATION AND HUMANITARIAN AID, APRIL-MAY 2001 [ICPSR 3361]), an oversample of young respondents, aged 15-24, was added to the basic sample in order to obtain a total of at least 600 young respondents per country. An additional set of questions was administered to these young respondents eliciting responses on a number of topics, including the meaning and the importance of the European Union, areas in which the EU should be more or less active, sources of information about the EU, important aspects of society making participation of young people in society easier, suggestions for better integration of minorities into society, and opinions on foreigners living in the respondent's country. These young respondents were also asked about their leisure activities and organizations to which they belonged, their use of the Internet, use of computers and other electronic equipment (e.g., PC, CD, DVD, mobile phone), languages they spoke and would like to learn, countries they had visited in the last two years and reasons for the visits, employment considerations and money sources, and problems they would have if they wanted to study or work abroad. Respondents not underage were asked if they favored or were against a number of issues such as euthanasia, the death penalty, compulsory AIDS testing, premarital sex, cloning, etc. Demographic and other background information collected includes respondent's age, gender, nationality, marital status, left-right political self-placement, occupation, age at completion of education, household income, region of residence, and type and size of community. For a comparable survey in this series, see EUROBAROMETER 47.2OVR: YOUNG EUROPEANS, APRIL-JUNE 1997 [ICPSR 2091].

The current Flash Eurobarometer on “Young People and Science”, requested by the Research Directorate-General, was conducted to determine young people‟s interest in science and technology, their views on various topics and their plans for future involvement in the scientific domains.

The results by volumes are distributed as follows:

• Volume A: Countries
• Volume AA: Groups of countries
• Volume A' (AP): Trends
• Volume AA' (AAP): Trends of groups of countries
• Volume B: EU/socio-demographics
• Volume B' (BP) : Trends of EU/ socio-demographics
• Volume C: Country/socio-demographics ---- Researchers may also contact GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences: https://www.gesis.org/eurobarometer