With fast-growing youth population, Africa boasts enormous market potential – UN deputy chief (2024)

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With fast-growing youth population, Africa boasts enormous market potential – UN deputy chief? ›

With fast-growing youth population, Africa boasts enormous market potential – UN deputy chief. African countries individually represent relatively small markets, but collectively, they represent enormous market potential, the United Nations deputy chief told an Africa Week event in New York on Wednesday.

Median age in Africa 2023, by country

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.

Fueled by a combination of falling mortality and some of the highest birth rates in the world, Africa's total population has increased tenfold and now stands at over 1.4 billion. The United Nations projects that by 2050, Africa's population will reach close to 2.5 billion.

But Africa's baby boom continues apace, fueling the youngest, fastest growing population on earth. In 1950, Africans made up 8 percent of the world's people. A century later, they will account for one-quarter of humanity, and at least one-third of all young people aged 15 to 24, according to United Nations forecasts.

Rapid population growth causes a strain on the available food. Most developing nations have to cope with food shortages. Countries like Sudan, Chad, and Eritrea are constantly in need of food relief. Food shortages cause undernourishment among the population.

The population in Africa was forecast to expand annually by an average of 2.37 percent between 2020 and 2025. Over 20 countries might grow above this rate, with Niger leading by an annual population change of 3.7 percent in the mentioned period.

Africa's young people are energetic and ambitious. As the most connected generation of Africans in history, they hold the key to unleashing greater productivity and propelling the economic trajectory of the continent – if they are healthy, educated, and skilled.

Some factors cited for this phenomenon are: high birth rates; high fertility rates; childbirth at a young age; low rates of contraceptive use; decline in infant mortality rates; decline in overall deaths rates; decline in maternal mortality rates; increase in life expectancy; and decline in HIV/AIDS related deaths.

3 factors explaining this high level of fertility are the earliness and universality of marriage, rates of contraceptive usage of only 4-10% in most countries, and declining durations of breast feeding and sexual abstinence, which traditionally served as brakes on fertility.

Delaying the start of marriage and childbearing – which largely occur together in most African countries – could significantly reduce the rate of population growth. This would be the case even without any change in fertility behaviours. Another driver revolves around family planning.

Which country has the strongest youth? ›

India has its largest ever adolescent and youth population. According to UNFPA projections, India will continue to have one of the youngest populations in the world till 2030. India is experiencing a demographic window of opportunity, a “youth bulge” that will last till 2025.

The youngest country in the world is Niger, where almost 50% of the population is below the age of 15. 🇨🇩 Congo, Dem.

Three out of five of the most populous countries in the world are located in Asia. Ultimately the highest population growth rate is also found there, the country with the highest population growth rate is Syria. This could be due to a low infant mortality rate in Syria or the ever -expanding tourism sector.

Rapid population growth inevitably affects human development. World Bank reports confirm that the slow decline of fertility rates in Africa will likely result in a large and young population, with the region becoming a much larger part of the world population.

Results and discussion. The latest empirical research reveals the potential negative consequences of population growth for economic development into seven categories. Its impacts on economic growth, poverty and inequality, education, heath, food, the environment, and international migration.

Rapid growth has led to uncontrolled urbanization, which has produced overcrowding, destitution, crime, pollution, and political turmoil. Rapid growth has outstripped increases in food production, and population pressure has led to the overuse of arable land and its destruction.

India has its largest ever adolescent and youth population. According to UNFPA projections, India will continue to have one of the youngest populations in the world till 2030. India is experiencing a demographic window of opportunity, a “youth bulge” that will last till 2025.

The Republic of South Sudan is also referred to as the youngest nation in Africa after gaining independence on 9 July 2011.

Africa is the continent with the youngest population worldwide. As of 2023, around 40 percent of the population was aged 15 years and younger, compared to a global average of 25 percent. Although the median age on the continent has been increasing annually, it remains low at around 20 years.

Africa has the youngest population in the world, with more than 400 million individuals aged between 15 and 35 years. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), one-third are unemployed and discouraged, another third are vulnerably employed, and only one in six are in wage employment.