Global Population · Ages 15–24
Global Youth Population 2026: Where the World’s 1.3 Billion Young People Live
The world had an estimated 1.283 billion people aged 15–24 in 2025. The global total is projected to remain close to that level through 2050, while a larger share of young people becomes concentrated in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Figures use the United Nations World Population Highlights 2026: Youth, revised in June 2026, and its underlying World Population Prospects 2024 estimates and projections. Income groups follow the World Bank classification used in the report.
Last updated: July 22, 2026
Core Global Youth Indicators
Definition note: “Youth” refers to people aged 15–24 throughout this analysis. It should not be confused with the 0–14 child population or the broader 15–64 working-age population used in many country demographic profiles.
Nearly 60% of the World’s Youth Live in Ten Countries
The ten countries identified by the UN report contained 726.2 million people aged 15–24 in 2025. Their combined total was 56.6% of the global youth population. India and China alone accounted for 420.0 million young people.
The country ranking is based on the estimated number of people aged 15–24, not on the percentage of each national population that belongs to this age group.
| 2025 Rank | Country | Income Group | Youth Population 2000 | Youth Population 2025 | National Youth Share 2025 | Youth Population 2050 | Change 2025–2050 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | Lower-middle income | 205,461,000 | 256,511,000 | 17.5% | 216,224,000 | −15.7% |
| 2 | China | Upper-middle income | 202,745,000 | 163,487,000 | 11.5% | 81,894,000 | −49.9% |
| 3 | Pakistan | Lower-middle income | 30,034,000 | 50,933,000 | 20.0% | 65,026,000 | +27.7% |
| 4 | Nigeria | Lower-middle income | 25,368,000 | 49,657,000 | 20.9% | 69,406,000 | +39.8% |
| 5 | United States | High income | 39,699,000 | 45,891,000 | 13.2% | 42,905,000 | −6.5% |
| 6 | Indonesia | Upper-middle income | 43,067,000 | 45,587,000 | 16.0% | 42,170,000 | −7.5% |
| 7 | Bangladesh | Lower-middle income | 28,312,000 | 33,253,000 | 18.9% | 30,970,000 | −6.9% |
| 8 | Brazil | Upper-middle income | 34,476,000 | 30,160,000 | 14.2% | 23,314,000 | −22.7% |
| 9 | Ethiopia | Low income | 12,222,000 | 28,428,000 | 21.0% | 42,360,000 | +49.0% |
| 10 | Mexico | Upper-middle income | 19,482,000 | 22,247,000 | 16.9% | 18,746,000 | −15.7% |
How the Ten-Country Ranking Changes by 2050
- India had the largest youth population in 2025 at 256.5 million. Its projected 2050 total remains above 216 million despite a 15.7% decline.
- China’s youth population is projected to fall from 163.5 million to 81.9 million, a reduction of 49.9%.
- Nigeria, Pakistan and Ethiopia are the only countries in the current top ten with projected increases above 25%.
- Ethiopia’s youth population is projected to rise by 13.9 million, while Nigeria’s rises by 19.7 million.
- The combined youth population of the ten countries falls from 726.2 million in 2025 to 633.0 million in 2050.
The Largest Youth Populations in 2025
Population Aged 15–24 in the Ten Largest Countries
Estimated mid-year population aged 15–24, ordered by 2025 population size.
Source: UN DESA, World Population Highlights 2026: Youth, revised June 2026, Table A1.
The Global Total Remains Near 1.28 Billion as Its Distribution Changes
The estimated world youth population increases from 1.097 billion in 2000 to 1.283 billion in 2025. The 2050 projection is 1.281 billion, only 1.9 million below the 2025 estimate.
The stable global total does not represent stable national or income-group totals. The LLMIC youth population is projected to gain 121.8 million people, while the HUMIC youth population is projected to lose 122.8 million.
| Population Group | Youth Population 2000 | Youth Population 2025 | Youth Population 2050 | Youth Share of Group Population 2025 | Youth Share of Group Population 2050 | Change 2025–2050 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World | 1,096,535,000 | 1,283,150,000 | 1,281,227,000 | 15.6% | 13.3% | −0.15% |
| Low- and lower-middle-income countries | 526,552,000 | 756,599,000 | 878,404,000 | 18.4% | 15.8% | +16.1% |
| High- and upper-middle-income countries | 565,085,000 | 521,267,000 | 398,427,000 | 12.7% | 9.7% | −23.6% |
| No income group available | 4,848,000 | 5,239,000 | 4,363,000 | 17.9% | 13.7% | −16.7% |
How the Income-Group Balance Shifts
- LLMICs contained 59.0% of the global youth population in 2025 and are projected to contain 68.6% in 2050.
- The number of young people in LLMICs rises from 756.6 million to 878.4 million.
- The HUMIC total falls below 400 million by 2050, compared with 521.3 million in 2025.
- The global youth share of the total population falls from 15.6% to 13.3% even though the absolute youth count remains near 1.28 billion.
Youth Population Trends Diverge by Income Group
Youth Population by Income Group, 2000–2050
Population aged 15–24 in low- and lower-middle-income countries and in high- and upper-middle-income countries.
Source: UN DESA, World Population Highlights 2026: Youth, revised June 2026. The 2050 values are projections.
Youth Populations Rise Fastest in Parts of Sub-Saharan Africa
The UN report identifies 22 LLMICs where the population aged 15–24 is projected to grow by at least 50% between 2025 and 2050. The fastest expansion is expected in Angola, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Somalia.
The same report identifies Albania, China, Greece, Jamaica and the Republic of Korea among the countries with the largest relative declines. Percentage changes below are calculated from the revised Table A1 values.
| Country | Projected Pattern | Youth Population 2025 | Youth Population 2050 | Absolute Change | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Rapid growth | 21,559,000 | 44,422,000 | +22,863,000 | +106.0% |
| Angola | Rapid growth | 7,552,000 | 14,691,000 | +7,139,000 | +94.5% |
| Somalia | Rapid growth | 3,858,000 | 7,452,000 | +3,594,000 | +93.2% |
| Central African Republic | Rapid growth | 1,238,000 | 2,363,000 | +1,125,000 | +90.9% |
| Chad | Rapid growth | 4,160,000 | 7,867,000 | +3,707,000 | +89.1% |
| Niger | Rapid growth | 5,763,000 | 10,656,000 | +4,893,000 | +84.9% |
| China | Large relative decline | 163,487,000 | 81,894,000 | −81,593,000 | −49.9% |
| Jamaica | Large relative decline | 447,000 | 250,000 | −197,000 | −44.1% |
| Albania | Large relative decline | 342,000 | 195,000 | −147,000 | −43.0% |
| Republic of Korea | Large relative decline | 5,015,000 | 2,872,000 | −2,143,000 | −42.7% |
| Greece | Large relative decline | 1,048,000 | 741,000 | −307,000 | −29.3% |
Where the Projection Changes Most
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo records the largest absolute gain in this selected group, adding a projected 22.9 million young people.
- Its projected percentage increase exceeds 100%, from 21.6 million in 2025 to 44.4 million in 2050.
- China records the largest absolute decline, with 81.6 million fewer people aged 15–24 in 2050 than in 2025.
- Percentage change and absolute change describe different dimensions: a smaller country can have a larger proportional shift but a much smaller numerical change.
Projected Growth and Decline Follow Different Regional Paths
Selected Youth Population Changes, 2025–2050
Percentage change calculated from revised UN Table A1 values.
Source: UN DESA, World Population Highlights 2026: Youth, revised June 2026. Percentage change is derived as (2050 projection − 2025 estimate) ÷ 2025 estimate.
Older Populations Expand Relative to Youth in HUMICs
Changes in youth population size occur alongside wider changes in age structure. The relationship between people aged 15–24 and people aged 65 or older differs sharply between the two income-group aggregates.
There was already more than one person aged 65 or older for every person aged 15–24.
The older population is projected to be nearly three times the size of the youth population.
There was roughly one person aged 65 or older for every three young people.
The population aged 65 or older is expected to double, although young people remain more numerous.
A falling youth share does not always mean that the youth population is shrinking. In LLMICs, the number aged 15–24 rises by 16.1% while their share of the total group population falls from 18.4% to 15.8%. The total population is growing across other age groups as well.
What the Geographic Redistribution Measures
LLMICs are projected to have 121.8 million more people aged 15–24 in 2050 than in 2025.
Growth in Nigeria, Pakistan and Ethiopia occurs alongside declines in China, Brazil and several other current top-ten countries.
A country can retain a large youth count while the youth share of its national population falls.
The 2050 values describe a modelled population path based on demographic assumptions, not a fixed future count.
Data Sources and Methodology
The main values come from Table A1 of the revised June 2026 edition of World Population Highlights 2026: Youth. The table reports population aged 15–24 in thousands for 2000, 2025 and 2050, together with the age group’s share of total population.
Values shown as 2025 figures are UN estimates. Values shown for 2050 are projections based on World Population Prospects 2024. Unless otherwise stated, reference years in the report refer to 1 July.
| Source | Release or Data Year | Used For | Measure Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| UN DESA, World Population Highlights 2026: Youth | February 2026; Table A1 revised June 2026 | Global totals, income-group totals, country youth populations, youth shares and report-defined growth and decline examples | Published analytical report and revised statistical annex |
| UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024 | 2024 revision | Underlying 2000 and 2025 estimates and 2050 population projections | Modelled mid-year population estimates and demographic projections |
| World Bank income classification | May 2024 classification used by the UN report | Low-, lower-middle-, upper-middle- and high-income grouping | GNI-per-capita income classification |
Calculation note: Source values reported in thousands were converted to full population counts. The combined top-ten share was calculated by summing the ten country estimates and dividing by the world total. Percentage changes use the formula (2050 projected population − 2025 estimated population) ÷ 2025 estimated population × 100.
Revision note: The United Nations states that Table A1 was revised in June 2026. No other sections of the February 2026 report were modified in that revision.
Methodological Safety Note: The report year is 2026, but the principal current reference year in the demographic tables is 2025. The 2025 values are modelled mid-year estimates rather than a simultaneous global census. The 2050 values are scenario-based projections and are not guaranteed predictions. Income classifications can change after the May 2024 reference used in the report. Country totals may differ from national census or registration figures because reference dates, population concepts and estimation methods are not identical. Rounded figures may not sum exactly to published aggregates.
Global Youth Population FAQ
How many young people are there in the world?
The revised UN table estimates 1,283,150,000 people aged 15–24 in 2025. This is commonly summarized as approximately 1.3 billion.
Why is this called the 2026 youth population report when the main data year is 2025?
2026 is the publication year. The report uses 2025 as its current demographic reference year and 2050 as its main projection year.
What ages are included in the UN definition of youth?
The report uses ages 15–24. It sometimes separates this group into ages 15–19 and ages 20–24 for analytical purposes.
Which country has the largest youth population?
India had the largest population aged 15–24 in 2025, with an estimated 256,511,000 young people.
Do ten countries contain 60% of the world’s youth?
The report describes the share as nearly 60%. Summing the revised country values gives 726.2 million people, equal to approximately 56.6% of the 2025 global youth population.
Will the global youth population increase by 2050?
The total is projected to remain almost unchanged, moving from 1.283 billion in 2025 to 1.281 billion in 2050. The distribution changes: the LLMIC total rises while the HUMIC total declines.