👀 Half the Population is Below 18 in 11 Countries Around the World

Key Takeaways

• The Central African Republic tops the list of countries with the most children, with 56.2% of its population under 18.
• Nigeria’s under-18 population surpasses 112 million—more than the total population of the Philippines, the 13th most populous country in the world

🌍 The Next Generations Belong to Africa

By 2050, nearly 40% of the world’s children will live in Africa, driven by high fertility and falling child mortality.

While Europe and East Asia confront shrinking workforces and rising dependency ratios, sub-Saharan Africa is still young, and still growing.

This youth surge will shape the future of global labor markets, migration flows, education demand, and geopolitical influence.

Whether this boom becomes a dividend or a crisis will depend on investments made now—in health, education, and infrastructure.