In South Africa, the National Youth Policy defines youth as any persons between the ages of 14 and 35 years. South Africa has one of the youngest populations in the world at 24.9 years. This is both a major opportunity and a major risk. This is one of the lowest in the world and certainly lower than most large emerging economies (such as the BRIC countries) and all of the developed world. The average age in the world is currently estimated at 29.1 years, with some countries as low as 16.8 years (Malawi), and some as high as 44.7 years (Japan)[1]
It is estimated that currently over 20% of South Africa’s population is younger than 10 years old, while in China the percentage is 9.6%, US 9.7%, Germany 8.5%, and Japan 8.5%.
Young People in South Africa have historically been at the epicentre of political and social change. During the mid 1970s and 1980s, they played a catalytic role as foot soldiers in the anti-apartheid struggles.[2]