The United Nations’ latest youth population report paints a sharply divided picture of the world. In 2025, the planet has nearly 1.3 billion young people aged 15 to 24—the largest youth generation in history. Yet this huge generation is not spread evenly. About 59 per cent already live in low- and lower-middle-income countries, and by 2050 that share is projected to rise to 69 per cent. In other words, the world’s youth are becoming increasingly concentrated in places that often face the greatest development pressures. (un.org)
The contrast between countries is striking. Between 2025 and 2050, youth populations in low- and lower-middle-income countries are expected to grow by 16 per cent, reaching almost 880 million, with much of the increase occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. In 22 countries, the number of young people is projected to jump by at least 50 per cent; among the fastest-growing are Angola, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Somalia. For these countries, a large youth population could become a “demographic dividend” if governments can provide education, health care and decent work. Without such investment, however, rapid growth may deepen poverty, inequality and social strain. (un.org)
At the same time, many richer countries are moving in the opposite direction. The UN projects that youth populations in high- and upper-middle-income countries will fall by nearly 24 per cent by 2050, dropping below 400 million. Fifty-one countries are likely to see declines of at least 25 per cent, with some of the sharpest falls in Albania, China, Greece, Jamaica and the Republic of Korea. In these countries, the challenge is not overcrowded classrooms but ageing societies: today there is roughly one person aged 65 or over for every young person in this income group, and by 2050 older people are projected to outnumber youth by almost three to one. (un.org)
Seen together, these trends reveal a new demographic polarization. According to the UN’s broader 2024 population outlook, 63 countries had already reached their population peak by 2024, while 126—including India, Nigeria and the United States—are still expected to grow through 2054. The real question, then, is not simply how many people the world will have, but where its young people will live—and whether those societies are ready to help them shape the future. (un.org)
