Africa’s Youth Boom 

In Asiya Saidu’s community in Nigeria, women are expected to be stay-at-home wives and mothers. But Asiya, 17, is on a different path. She is in school studying to be a nurse.

Meanwhile in Côte d’Ivoire, 24-year-old Jean-Patrick Niambé is living out his dream as a hip-hop artist. He often performs at packed concerts.

And in Sudan, Nuha Abdelgadir, 18, regularly takes part in protests. She wants her country’s people to have a greater say in their government.

Welcome to today’s Africa. This continent of 54 independent countries has the fastest-growing population of young people on the planet. By 2050, Africans will make up at least one-third of all young people ages 15 to 24 globally, according to United Nations estimates. With their energy and ambition, they are transforming their continent—and its relationship with the rest of the world.

Asiya Saidu, 17, lives in Nigeria. In her community, women are expected to be stay-at-home wives and mothers. But she is on a different path. She is in school studying to be a nurse.

Meanwhile in Côte d’Ivoire, Jean-Patrick Niambé, 24, is living out his dream. He is a hip-hop artist. He often performs at packed concerts.

And in Sudan, Nuha Abdelgadir, 18, regularly takes part in protests. She wants her country’s people to have a greater say in their government.

Welcome to today’s Africa, a continent of 54 independent countries. It has the fastest-growing population of young people on the planet. By 2050, Africans will make up at least one-third of all young people ages 15 to 24 worldwide. That is according to United Nations estimates. The young people have energy and ambition. They are changing their continent—and its relationship with the rest of the world.

Signs of this youth boom are everywhere: African cities are growing rapidly. The continent’s young residents are more educated than ever. And African cultures are captivating people worldwide through music, fashion, and more. 

“It feels like the opportunities are unlimited for us right now,” says Niambé.

Signs of this youth boom are everywhere. For example, African cities are growing rapidly. Africa’s young residents are more educated than ever. And African cultures are attracting people worldwide through music, fashion, and more.

“It feels like the opportunities are unlimited for us right now,” says Niambé.

North America, Europe, and Asia have long led the world in economic growth and education opportunities. But their populations are growing older as their birth rates drop. Meanwhile, the number of babies being born in Africa is rising. The continent’s overall population is projected to nearly double, to 2.5 billion, over the next 25 years. By 2050, one in four people in the world will be African.

In many ways, the future is looking bright for Africa’s growing population. Africans are living longer than ever, and they are more educated. About 44 percent of students in Africa graduated from high school in 2020, up from 27 percent in 2000. What’s more, Africa’s political leaders are demanding a bigger say in world issues, including the global economy and trade. 

Amid this growth, African music and art are surging in popularity. In the United States, the Grammy Awards recently added a category for Best African Music. African clothing designers are making a splash at international fashion shows. And last year, the animated series Supa Team 4 premiered on Netflix. The show—created by African writers and producers—follows four teenage superheroes from Zambia on a mission to save the world.

All the positive attention comes as no surprise to Sipho Dlamini, a music executive from Zimbabwe. “It’s cool to be African,” he says.

North America, Europe, and Asia have long led the world in economic growth and education opportunities. But their populations are growing older as their birth rates drop. Meanwhile, the number of babies being born in Africa is rising. Over the next 25 years, the continent’s overall population is projected to nearly double, to 2.5 billion. By 2050, one in four people in the world will be African.

In many ways, the future is looking bright for Africa’s growing population. Africans are living longer than ever. They are more educated too. About 44 percent of students in Africa graduated from high school in 2020. That is up from 27 percent in 2000. Also, Africa’s political leaders are demanding a bigger say in world issues. That includes the global economy and trade.

Amid this growth, African music and art are quickly growing more popular. In the United States, the Grammy Awards recently added a category for Best African Music. African clothing designers are making a splash at international fashion shows. And last year, the animated series Supa Team 4 premiered on Netflix. The show was created by African writers and producers. It follows four teenage superheroes from Zambia on a mission to save the world.

All the positive attention comes as no surprise to Sipho Dlamini. He is a music executive from Zimbabwe. “It’s cool to be African,” he says.

But along with opportunities, the growth brings challenges. Many Africans live in poverty, partly because there aren’t enough jobs to go around. Experts say this problem will only get worse as the population expands. 

Within the next decade, the continent’s working-age population—people ages 15 to 65—will hit 1 billion. African leaders are faced with the enormous task of creating enough jobs for them.

The growth brings opportunities. But it also brings challenges. Many Africans live in poverty. That is partly because there are not enough jobs to go around. Experts say this problem will get worse as the population expands.

People ages 15 to 65 make up Africa’s working-age population. Within the next decade, it will hit 1 billion. African leaders are faced with the giant task of creating enough jobs for them.

The issue of climate change is also a concern for Africa. Increased droughts and floods have battered the continent, causing rivers to run dry and crops and cattle to die. This makes it harder to feed and support growing populations.  

The issue of climate change is also a concern for Africa. Increased droughts and floods have harmed the continent. They have caused rivers to run dry and crops and cattle to die. This makes it harder to feed and support growing populations.

Several efforts are underway to tackle those challenges. The African Union is a group of African nations that work together on the economy and other issues. It recently teamed up with Google to provide young people with technology training and help to start their own businesses.

Climate experts say transitioning Africa to renewable energy, such as solar power, is another way to boost employment—and help the environment. Several projects, including a solar tower in Morocco and a hydrogen plant in Namibia, have already created thousands of new jobs.

In the meantime, researchers point out, African countries have an important resource that aging societies in other parts of the world are losing: a growing population of young people brimming with ideas and creativity.

Take it from Nedye Astou Touré, a 23-year-old college student in Senegal. She and a classmate are designing a rocket—a first step toward their ultimate goal of sending a satellite into space.

“Just wait,” Touré says. “Years from now, you might be hearing about us.” 

—Declan Walsh covers Africa for The New York Times.

Several efforts are underway to tackle those challenges. The African Union is a group of African nations that work together on the economy and other issues. It recently teamed up with Google. Together, they are providing young people with technology training and help to start their own businesses.

Climate experts say another way to increase employment is to switch Africa to renewable energy, like solar power. That helps the environment too. Several projects have already created thousands of new jobs. Projects include a solar tower in Morocco and a hydrogen plant in Namibia.

In the meantime, researchers point out, African countries have an important resource: a growing population of young people filled with ideas and creativity. That is something aging societies in other parts of the world are losing.

Take it from Nedye Astou Touré, 23. She is a college student in Senegal. Touré and a classmate are designing a rocket. That is a first step toward their main goal of sending a satellite into space.

“Just wait,” Touré says. “Years from now, you might be hearing about us.”

—Declan Walsh covers Africa for The New York Times.