Angola is Extremely Youthful

When it comes to youngsters, Angola has a lot. In fact, nearly 70% of the Angolan population is under 24 years old. Angola has a very young population with a median age of 16.7 years. The fertility rate is one of the highest in the world, at 5.55 births per woman, allowing the country to grow rapidly. Regrettably, war has had a significant impact on the ratio of young to old. The country was ravaged by a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002, and it is still fighting to recover from the socioeconomic damage it caused.

The lives of today's Angolan youth are shaped by conflict as well as new hopes. This is true for both those born and raised in rural areas, who are the most affected by war, and urban youth, who have more access to modernity but whose future is equally threatened. War and uncertainty have an impact on how young people view the future, limiting their ability to make life decisions. Peace has brought new opportunities, but it has also brought new challenges.