Africa
Young people aged 10 to 24 now represent the majority of Africa's population; By 2050, more than a quarter of the world's workforce will be African.
Gall-Peters projection world map (2011) by StrebeObservatory of the Portuguese Language
This map changes the way in which Africa is usually presented on a world map or planisphere: it is the Gall-Peters Projection.
The Mercator Planisphere, created in 1569, greatly distorts the size of the land, creating the so-called "Greenland problem", where the land masses furthest from the equator appear much larger than they really are.
Africa is actually 14 times larger than Greenland, but if you look at a Mercator projection map it seems the opposite.
Children with roller carriage (2017) by Gsé SilvaObservatory of the Portuguese Language
Young people aged 10 to 24 represent the majority of Africa's population, or one third of the total.
Although today's young people have a better education than their parents, it generally does not improve their prospects for finding a job.
This situation is further exacerbated by the fact that Africa's population is growing at a faster rate than any other region.
In this year of 2021, it is estimated that 3 out of 4 Africans are on average 20 years old. This means that there will be an even greater demand for decent and modern jobs.
An old woman walking across a map of Africa (2007) by LUSA - EPA/JON HRUSAObservatory of the Portuguese Language
By 2050, more than a quarter of the world's workforce will be African.
Given this demographic imbalance, African youth is not only critical for Africa, but for the continued development of the world as a whole.
Young people aged 10 to 24 represent the majority of Africa's population (2020) by Observatory of the Portuguese Language and 2010Observatory of the Portuguese Language
If the future, as we all know, belongs to young people, let us accept that most of them in the 21st century will be Africans.
Percentage of population aged 65 and over (2019) by United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs.Observatory of the Portuguese Language
Annual average rate of population changes (%) 2020-2100 (projection of average variant). 2019 World Population Outlook Review, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
African countries by population (2019) by United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs.Observatory of the Portuguese Language
Africa remains one of the fastest growing regions in the world.
World Internet Usage and Population Statistics (2020) by Internet World StatsObservatory of the Portuguese Language
The Internet in Africa is limited by a lower penetration rate when compared to the rest of the world.
However from 2000 to 2020, Africa recorded a huge growth in the use of the internet.
Percentage growth in Internet usage (2020) by Internet World StatsObservatory of the Portuguese Language
Internet penetration rates and users (% of population) (2020) by Internet World StatsObservatory of the Portuguese Language
From 2000 to 2020, Africa recorded a huge growth in the use of the internet.
Look at useres records and Internet penetration rates (% of population) in the Portuguese Speaking African Countries (CPLP)
- Prof. Dr. Carlos Lopes, Honorary Professor at Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, Faculty of Commerce, University of Cape Town; Visiting Professor at Sciences Po, Paris, and Associate Fellow at Chatham House, London. 2017 Fellow at Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford.
- United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs.
Autor: Francisco Nuno Ramos, Observatório da Língua Portuguesa
