Africa’s Youth: Demographic Dividend or Disaster?

There is a marked difference between the demographic profile of Africa, as opposed to that of western Europe, Japan, the USA, and other countries in south-east Asia. Unlike the latter, Africa has a far younger population, and is poised to add an estimated 800m people to the global work force by 2050. This creates the opportunity for the emergence of demographic dividend, with concomitant benefits for economic growth, broader socio-economic development, and poverty alleviation - but only if the young population is appropriately schooled, skilled, and empowered to gain meaningful employment. If the status quo regarding education and training persists, a bleak, troubled, and turbulent future awaits the continent. This presentation will explore the dimensions of Africa’s population over the next few decades, taking into account fertility, mortality, and migration rates. The meaning of, and conditions for, a demographic dividend are examined, after which Africa’s potential compliance with these conditions is assessed. A set of scenarios is then constructed to propose policies to leverage the continent’s youthfulness.