Ever stop to think that in some countries, nearly half the population is under 15?  

In this explainer, we focus on ranking countries by the share of their population under that age threshold, and we find that these countries are mainly in Africa.

TL;DR 

• The Central African Republic has the highest percentage of its population (49%) under 15 years old.
• Countries in East Asia and some parts of Europe have the lowest share of their populations under 15.
• Countries with few children face challenges in the labor force and in economic growth.

The data used in this explainer are from the United Nations Population Division and are published by the World Bank Group. The latest update is as of 2024. 

Top 30 Countries with the Highest Percentage of Population Under 15 Years

As you can see, the Central African Republic (CAR) has the youngest population in the world. 

This is driven by high birth rates in recent decades and limited declines in fertility. 

According to the World Bank Group, the Central African Republic’s fertility rate in 2023 ranged from 6.0 to 6.4 births per woman. 

For context, the fertility rate is the average number of children a woman has over her lifetime. 

The following three countries (Niger, Somalia, and Mali) also have young populations. 

Recent reports by UNICEF record that these countries face challenges such as limited access to family planning, early marriage, and lower school enrollment for girls. 

These are all factors associated with high fertility and thus larger child populations.

Sub-Saharan Africa Packs the World’s Youngest Population

Countries with the highest share of population under 15 are mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where fertility rates are among the highest in the world. 

Many nations in this region are still in the early stages of the demographic transition, with high birth rates and improving child survival. As a result, children make up a large share of the population.

In contrast, regions like East Asia, Europe, and parts of North America show the opposite pattern. 

These regions have very low fertility, delayed marriage and childbirth, and longer life expectancy, all of which reduce the proportion of children. 

This creates a division between “younger” regions with expanding youth populations and “older” regions with shrinking populations.

What a Young Population Means for Economic Growth 

Countries with very young populations, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, drive a significant share of global workforce growth. 

A high share of children today means an ample, upcoming labor supply, which can increase economic productivity if education and job creation keep pace.

However, large youth populations also put heavy pressure on public systems. 

With millions of young people entering the job market every year, many economies struggle to create enough stable positions. 

This mismatch can lead to underemployment unless skills training expands.

ELI5

The Central African Republic tops the list, with almost half its population under 15. This means a very young population that will soon enter the workforce, creating both opportunities and challenges for education and the job market.

In contrast, countries in East Asia and parts of Europe have the smallest share of children. These older populations face various challenges, such as a smaller workforce to support them.

Source: 

World Bank | UN Women Gender report | UNICEF