ICYO – YOUTH INFORMATION

Update No. 14/ March 2007

(E - newsletter from network of Indian youth organizations)
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India Young, But Not the Youngest Nation

Rema Nagarajan | TIG

New Delhi: Much has been made of India’s large young population. Nearly 70% of India’s population is younger than 35 years and reams have been written about how young India is. Yet, it is nowhere near having the lowest median age in the world.
   The list of countries with the lowest median age is dominated almost entirely by Africa, although it is for all the wrong reasons. A look at the life expectancy in most of the African nations provides a clue as to why they are the youngest countries.

   Very high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in many African countries, particularly in the south, seems to be taking a heavy toll. Few African countries have an average life expectancy beyond 50 years. In fact, of the 10 countries that form the southernmost part of the African mainland, seven have an average life expectancy of 40 years or less. In the case of Swaziland, it’s as low as 32.6 years.

   The others have a life expectancy of just a little above 40, the highest being Namibia with 43.4 years. With a few among the population living beyond their 40s, it’s no wonder that the median age of these countries are the lowest in the world—ranging from 15 years in Uganda to 18.6 in Rwanda.

   In fact, 41 of the 50 youngest countries in the world are African, but again, in most cases this is essentially due to a very low average life expectancy. Since having a young population—because most die before they even attain middle age—cannot be an advantage, it’s better to compare countries which have a life expectancy of at least 60 years.

   Even by this yardstick, however, India is nowhere near being the youngest nation. Of the 215 nations for which data on both median age and life expectancy is available, there are 47 which have a life expectancy of above 60 and a median age lower than India’s 24.9 years.

   Many of these are very small nations like Sao Tome and Principe or Mayotte, but the list includes several not-so-small countries like Oman, Iraq, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, Syria and Nicaragua—all with median ages ranging from 19 to 21 years. India’s median age is much above Bangladesh’s 22.2 or Egypt’s 24. In fact, most countries in West Asia and in Central America are part of the list of countries with lower median ages than India, and reasonably high life expectancy.

   When it comes to countries with the highest median age,there are few surprises. Japan has the second highest median age of 42.9 years, next only to Monaco with 45.4. Japan’s life expectancy is the highest in the world at 81.25. It is followed by Germany, Italy and several Scandinavian countries. The UK has a median age of 39.3 with a life expectancy of 78.54 and the US has a median age of 36.5 and life expectancy of 77.85.

(Times of India/12.03.2007)

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Youth Information is published by

Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO)

194-A, Arjun Nagar, Safdarjang Enclave

New Delhi 110029, India

Phone: 91 9811729093  / 91 11 26183978 Fax 91 11 26198423

Email: icyoindia@... / icyo@...

Web:  www.icyo.in

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Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. 

ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family consists of over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different corners of India.

Affiliation:  Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC);
Youth for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth
Environment Network (SAYEN), Affiliate group of ECPAT International, Thailand;
ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Partner of AIDS Care Watch Campaign;
Steering Committee member of World Bank's YDP Network;
Working relation with Indian Association of Parliamentarians (IAPPD);
International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations (IMPO);
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD);
World Youth Foundation, Malaysia.