The median age is now 18, which is seven years younger than in south Asia and 16 years below China.
There are 70 million more Africans under the age of 14 than a decade ago. Over the next 10 years, the number will rise by another 76 million. With fertility rates beginning to decline, this provides our continent with a tremendous opportunity. Africa is about to benefit from a sharply rising ratio of people of working age to dependents. When Asia experienced a similar demographic revolution three decades ago, it gave a powerful boost to economic growth.
If we can get this right and harness the incredible creativity, energy and innovation in our young people, we can reap a fantastic demographic dividend. But it is not guaranteed.The risk is that this shift could become a demographic disaster marked by rising levels of youth unemployment, social dislocation and hunger. The future depends on whether we can equip the current generation of young Africans with the education and skills they need to realise their potential - and create the jobs for them so they are able to unleash that potential.
