In 2050, One in Four People Worldwide Will Be African

Declining Birth Rates in Developed Countries vs. Doubled in 25 Years
Working-Age Population to Reach 1 Billion in 10 Years, Surpassing China
"Chronic Unemployment in Africa Will Become a Global Issue"

While the population of advanced countries is decreasing due to declining birth rates, Africa's population is projected to double over the next 25 years. One in four people worldwide will be African.

According to United Nations projections, Africa's population, which accounted for only 8% of the world's population in 1950, is expected to make up one-quarter of the global population by 2050, 100 years later, the New York Times (NYT) reported on the 28th (local time).

In particular, with a significant increase in the youth population, at least one-third of the world's 15-24-year-olds are expected to be African in 25 years. Currently, the median age of the African continent (the age at the midpoint of the total population when arranged by age) is 19 years. In contrast, the median age of India, the most populous country in the world, is 28, and both the United States and China have a median age of 38.

In the 2040s, two out of every five children born worldwide will be from Africa. In Nigeria, the population is increasing by 5 million people annually, and it is predicted to surpass the United States to become the third most populous country in the world by 2050.

This demographic composition is expected to have a significant impact not only on the African continent but also globally. Africa's working-age population (ages 15-65) is projected to reach 1 billion within 10 years, surpassing India and China to have the largest labor force in the world.

The NYT noted, "There will be tremendous impacts due to the tectonic shifts caused by the large youth population, but it is still uncertain, and the effects will vary across the African continent."

A representative social issue is Africa's chronic unemployment problem. African expert Aubrey Hruby said, "Africa's unemployment problem is a global issue," adding, "Africa's job crisis will become the defining issue of our time after climate change."

During the 1970s and 1980s, South Korea resolved youth unemployment issues through industrialization, but in Africa, six out of ten people suffer from electricity shortages, and most countries have failed to industrialize due to poor infrastructure.

According to the World Bank, up to 1 million Africans enter the labor market every month, but only one in four secures formal employment. Even South Africa, the most industrialized country in Africa, has an unemployment rate of 35%.

However, the NYT concluded, "With its young population, Africa will shape its own future and that of the world."

Jang Ha-joon, a professor of economics at the University of London, said about South Korea's situation in the 1960s when it was poor, "Young people played a major role in Korea's success," adding, "Korea becoming one of the economic powers shows that success can happen in unexpected countries," to the NYT.