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Sub-Saharan Africa

World Development Report 2007 - Regional Highlights

Lay foundation to benefit from expected increase in youth population

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Take advantage of region's demographic “window of opportunity”

  • Sub-Saharan Africa is home to over 200 million young people between the ages of 12 and 24. The number of young people in the region will peak in about 20 years.
  • The region’s window to invest in youth—to take advantage of its demographic transition—is yet to open. Countries have the opportunity to lay the foundation for a successful demographic transition.
  • The challenge is to continue investing in basic health, education, and skills of its labor force, while preparing to address the needs of the coming youth bulge.
  • This anticipated bulge presents a special challenge in a region that lags in many key areas, such as literacy and health, and is unlikely to meet any of the Millennium Development Goals.
The potential effect of HIV/AIDS on incomes
 
The HIV/AIDS crisis has already affected well-being in Africa, and without renewed action, incomes could fall to levels not seen since the 1960s.

Graph showing effect of HIV/AIDS on growth of national and per capita income (Kenya)


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Youth in Africa

Resources

Organge arrowGraph: Trends in developing world's population vary significantly across regions
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More graphs from the report

Related Websites

Organge arrowPrevious World Development Reports
Organge arrowWorld Bank's Africa website
Organge arrowWorld Bank Youth website (Youthink!)
Organge arrowYouth Development and Peace Network
Organge arrowYouth at the United Nations
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World Bank's Africa Action Plan

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World Bank's Africa HIV/AIDS website

 

 




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