Child population demographics, shifts and trends in Eastern and Southern Africa

By the end of the century, nearly half of the worlds children will be in Africa.

While the world’s child population (aged 0-17 years) reached its peak in 2022 and is expected to decrease from now on, Africa will continue to increase its child population.

The Eastern and Southern Africa region will more than triple its working-age population (20-64) between now and the end of the century.

These are just some of the statistics available in the infographics linked below. Click on each to expand or download.

Key takeaways

1. Countries in Eastern and Southern Africa need to accelerate investments in all social sectors to improve outcomes and to accommodate the growing child population with a long-term horizon.
2. In the next 10 years, 45 million children will be added to ESA child population. Education systems need to be adapted to provide children and young people with strong foundational learning, and skills adapted to changing job markets.
3. There is an opportunity to capitalize on this large youth bulge but without investment the chance of a productive and motivated workforce could be lost resulting in downward spirals in economies and civil society.
4. With a large child population and declining fertility, countries have a window of opportunity to supercharge economic growth and improve the situation of children and adolescents in Eastern and Southern Africa through investing in strengthening their health and education systems.
5. A key precursor for countries to reap the benefits of the demographic dividend down the line is ensuring all children grow up to their full potential starting with their right to name, registration and nationality.
6. Ensuring healthy lives with nutritious first foods is a cornerstone for continuous lifelong development starting in early life to developing foundational skills at school and transitioning to productive members of societies.  
7. Across ESAR countries, child population dynamics vary significantly - Tanzania and Angola will more than double, others like Kenya and South Africa see little change whereas Eswatini and Lesotho are projected to shrink.
8. Countries with projected high growth need to invest in enhancing birth registration, health, nutrition, education and protection systems to support the growing young population as they move to the working-age.
9. Countries with a stable or decreasing population of children are in transition as the working-age population grows - strategic investments in improving education and health are needed and help support employment to fully capitalize on the economic dividend.