Which countries have the youngest populations in the world?
According to the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, the Central African Republic has the world's youngest population in 2026, with a projected median age of just 14.63 years.
Somalia ranks second at 15.63 years, followed by Niger (15.72), Chad (15.74) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (15.86).
All ten countries with the lowest median ages are in Africa, highlighting the continent's youthful population structure.
This ranking compares 195 countries using UN medium-variant projections for 2026. The global median age is projected at 31.10 years, more than twice that of the Central African Republic.
Top 10 Countries With the Youngest Populations in 2026
The Central African Republic leads the ranking, followed by Somalia, Niger, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mali, Mozambique, Burundi, Angola and Uganda complete the top ten. Their projected median ages range from 15.88 to 17.11 years.
Afghanistan, with a median age of 17.44 years, ranks 11th and is the youngest country outside Africa.
Youngest Populations by Country: 2026 Rankings
The following table ranks 195 countries by their projected median age in 2026, from youngest to oldest.
The figures are based on the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 medium-variant projections. Median ages are expressed in years and displayed to two decimal places.
Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024 (Medium Variant), 2026 projections.
Key Findings
Central African Republic Has the Youngest Population
The Central African Republic ranks first with a projected median age of 14.63 years in 2026.
This means approximately half its population is younger than 14.63 years and half is older.
Its median age is 16.47 years below the projected global figure of 31.10 years.
Africa Dominates the Top Ten
All ten countries with the world's youngest populations are African.
Somalia ranks second at 15.63 years, while Niger and Chad follow at 15.72 and 15.74 years, respectively.
The small difference between Niger and Chad illustrates how closely ranked some of the world's youngest populations are.
Afghanistan Is the Youngest Country Outside Africa
Afghanistan ranks 11th globally with a projected median age of 17.44 years.
It is the first non-African country in the ranking, followed by other relatively youthful populations outside Africa, including Yemen.
India Has a Much Younger Population Than China
India ranks 91st among the 195 countries, with a projected median age of 29.22 years.
China ranks 155th at 40.65 years, while Japan has one of the world's oldest populations, with a median age of 50.18 years.
The difference between India and China is 11.43 years, highlighting their contrasting population age structures.
What Does Median Age Mean?
Median age is the age that divides a population into two equal groups.
Half of the population is younger than the median age, while the other half is older.
For example, a country with a median age of 18 years has approximately half its population below that age.
Median age is different from average age and life expectancy. It describes a population's age distribution rather than how long people are expected to live.
A lower median age indicates a younger population overall, but it does not necessarily mean a country has the largest number of young people.
Why Do Some Countries Have Young Populations?
Population age structures are influenced by fertility, mortality and migration.
Countries with historically high fertility rates tend to have larger younger generations, resulting in lower median ages.
Improvements in child survival and changes in life expectancy also affect the distribution of age groups.
As fertility declines and populations live longer, median ages generally rise. This demographic transition occurs at different speeds across countries.
What Does a Young Population Mean for the Economy?
A youthful population can create opportunities for economic growth as large generations enter the workforce.
With sufficient investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure and employment, countries may benefit from a demographic dividend.
However, this opportunity is not automatic.
Rapid growth in younger populations can also increase demand for schools, housing, healthcare services and jobs.
A low median age alone does not determine a country's economic performance or living standards.
Data Source and Methodology
This ranking uses the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024.
The indicator is Median Age of Population, based on medium-variant projections for July 1, 2026.
The analysis includes 195 countries, comprising 193 United Nations member states plus the Holy See and the State of Palestine. Dependent territories and other separately reported geographic areas are excluded.
Countries are ranked from youngest to oldest using the underlying projected median-age values. Figures are displayed to two decimal places, while ranks are presented as unique sequential positions.
Because the values are projections, they should not be interpreted as final observed demographic measurements for 2026.
The results reflect the UN's 2024 revision and may differ from later population estimates or projections.
Conclusion
The world's youngest populations in 2026 are concentrated in Africa, led by the Central African Republic, Somalia and Niger.
All ten countries with the lowest projected median ages are African, while Afghanistan has the youngest population outside the continent.
These differences reflect long-term demographic trends, particularly fertility, survival and migration.
Median age provides a useful measure of population structure, but it should be considered alongside fertility rates, life expectancy and population growth for a broader understanding of demographic change.
Source
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division — World Population Prospects 2024, Median Age of Population, Medium Variant, 2026 projections.
https://population.un.org/wpp/
Rankings and analysis compiled by The Data Visual.
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