Africa’s greatest asset is its youth. The continent’s population of 1.2-billion is projected to more than double by 2050, when Africa will be home to one-fourth of the world’s population. Africa will remain the world’s youngest region, with a median age of 25. Properly harnessed, this young growing working-age population will drive Africa’s economic transformation.

However, this opportunity could also pass Africa by. The majority of youth do not have secure work or economic futures. Of the 420-million youth aged between 15 and 35 in Africa today, the majority are unemployed, have insecure jobs or are in casual employment. On average, youth unemployment is roughly double the rate for adults. Significant variations do, however, occur across African countries.

Paper by AfDB