Africa is undergoing a demographic transformation of unprecedented proportions. According to United Nations estimates, the continent’s population is projected to double by 2050, reaching over 2.5 billion people. This population surge is driven by high fertility rates, declining mortality rates, and an increasing number of young people entering reproductive age.
Currently, about 60% of Africa’s population is below the age of 25, making it the youngest continent in the world. By 2075, one-third of the world’s population—and working-age population—will be African.
The World Bank projects that the population of young people aged 15-24 in Africa will reach 500 million by 2080. The working-age population (25-64) will only peak after 2100 at about 1.5 billion people. Interestingly, Africa is the only region where the workforce will grow continuously in the coming decades, presenting an enormous opportunity for economic growth.
“If the people are healthy, educated, and skilled, this projected working-age population can be the long-awaited big push to accelerate the region’s economic growth,” says the World Bank.
Statista reports that the 25 countries with the lowest median age in Africa are also the countries with the lowest median age worldwide. Niger has the youngest population with a median age of 14.8 years, followed by Uganda at 15.7 years and Angola at 15.9 years. This indicates that half of the population in these countries is younger than these median ages.
Top 10 African Countries with the Youngest Populations in 2024
- Niger: Median age of 14.8 years, population 27,944,319
- Uganda: Median age of 15.7 years, population 49,548,923
- Angola: Median age of 15.9 years, population 37,490,695
- Mali: Median age of 16.1 years, population 23,811,466
- Chad: Median age of 16.1 years, population 18,687,549
- DR Congo: Median age of 16.7 years, population 104,677,150
- Malawi: Median age of 16.8 years, population 21,322,501
- Zambia: Median age of 16.9 years, population 20,975,973
- Mozambique: Median age of 17 years, population 34,589,187
- Benin: Median age of 17 years, population 13,976,596
The Way Forward
Africa’s youthful population presents a significant opportunity to drive economic growth and development. To harness this potential, investments in health, education, and skills development are crucial. Effective policies and strategies must be implemented to ensure that the growing workforce is healthy, well-educated, and equipped with the necessary skills to contribute to the continent’s economic transformation.
The demographic dividend that Africa stands to gain from its youthful population could be substantial, provided that the right measures are taken to address the current challenges and leverage the opportunities presented by this population boom.