The youngest country in the world is not in Asia or Europe: "A huge generation of children"

The Central African Republic is the world's youngest country: 48.2% of its population is under 15, with a median age of 14.6. Behind this statistic lie a high fertility rate (5.7 children per woman), child marriage (61% of women married before 18), extreme poverty, and low life expectancy. The UN projects the population will double by 2050.

The Central African Republic is the world's youngest country: 48.2% of its residents, about 2.75 million people, are children under 15, and the median age is just 14.6. The fertility rate is 5.7 children per woman, one of the highest globally, and the UN projects the population will double to about 10.6 million by 2050. The birth rate among adolescent girls is more than four times the global average: 161 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19. 61% of women were married before age 18, and 26% before age 15. Over 70% of the population lives below the poverty line of $3 per day. The article notes that this young demographic structure could be a "demographic dividend" if the country invests in education and health, but without investment it could deepen poverty and increase recruitment by armed groups.