Published: October 10, 2026
Key Facts
- Youngest in Africa — and the world: The Central African Republic tops the ranking with a median age of just 14.6 years — the lowest of any country on earth in the UN's latest estimates.
- Africa holds the world's ten youngest populations. The continent's median age is 19.5 years, against a global median of 31.1.
- Six countries — the Central African Republic, Somalia, Niger, Chad, DR Congo and Mali — have median ages below 16.
- Niger, long the textbook example of the world's youngest country, sits at 15.7 in the UN WPP 2024 vintage — just behind the Central African Republic.
- Every country in the top 10 is at least 2.4 years below the African average median age of 19.5.
Top 10 Countries with the Youngest Population in Africa, 2026
| Rank | Country | Median age (years) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central African Republic | 14.6 |
| 2 | Somalia | 15.6 |
| 3 | Niger | 15.7 |
| 4 | Chad | 15.7 |
| 5 | DR Congo | 15.9 |
| 6 | Mali | 15.9 |
| 7 | Mozambique | 16.6 |
| 8 | Burundi | 16.6 |
| 9 | Angola | 16.7 |
| 10 | Uganda | 17.1 |
In the Central African Republic, half the population is younger than 14.6 — less than half the global median age of 31.1 years.
Selected Details
1. Central African Republic — 14.6 years
At 14.6 years, the Central African Republic's median age is the lowest in the world in this dataset — 4.9 years below the African average of 19.5. Sustained high fertility and years of conflict and instability have kept its population exceptionally young.
2. Somalia — 15.6 years
Somalia's median age of 15.6 makes it Africa's second-youngest population, 3.9 years below the continental average. Very high fertility rates keep the population pyramid wide at the base.
3. Niger — 15.7 years
Niger at 15.7 is Africa's third-youngest — and long the textbook example of the world's youngest country. In this UN vintage it trails the Central African Republic by 1.1 years; older CIA-based tables place it lower.
4. Chad — 15.7 years
Chad matches Niger at 15.7 on the rounded figure, ranking fourth on the unrounded value (15.74 vs 15.72). High fertility across the Sahel drives the region's strikingly young age structure.
5. DR Congo — 15.9 years
The Democratic Republic of the Congo rounds out the top five at 15.9 years. One of Africa's largest populations is also one of its youngest.
6. Mali — 15.9 years
Mali sits sixth at 15.9, trailing DR Congo only on the unrounded figure (15.879 vs 15.859). Like its Sahelian neighbours, rapid population growth keeps the median age low.
7. Mozambique — 16.6 years
Mozambique's 16.6 edges it ahead of Burundi for seventh place. It is the youngest population in Southern Africa's coastal east.
8. Burundi — 16.6 years
Burundi matches Mozambique at 16.6 on the rounded figure, ranking eighth on the unrounded value (16.640 vs 16.624). Dense, fast-growing and overwhelmingly young.
9. Angola — 16.7 years
Angola's 16.7 puts it ninth — nearly three years below the African average. High fertility has kept the median age low despite rising oil-driven incomes in the cities.
10. Uganda — 17.1 years
Uganda closes the top 10 at 17.1 years. East Africa's youngest large population — just ahead of Tanzania (17.6), which misses the cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "median age" mean?
The age that divides a population exactly in half: 50% younger, 50% older. A median age of 14.6 means half of the Central African Republic's population is under 14.6 years old.
Why is Africa's population so young?
High fertility rates combined with improving child survival. More children are born each year relative to the total population than in older, slower-growing regions, so the age distribution skews young.
Which country has the youngest population in the world in 2026?
The Central African Republic, at 14.6 years, per the UN World Population Prospects 2024. Some older or differently-dated sources name Niger — see Methodology for why figures differ.
How were these figures calculated?
All figures are 2026 estimates from the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-fertility variant), republished by database.earth. See Methodology for rounding and ranking details.
What does a very young population mean for these countries?
It is a potential demographic dividend — a huge future workforce — if education and jobs keep pace. If they don't, it means acute pressure on schools, health systems and labour markets.
Data Sources
- UN World Population Prospects 2024, medium-fertility variant, 2026 estimates — via database.earth (republished under CC BY 3.0 IGO)
- Global Issues (Sep 1, 2026) — corroborates the six countries at or below a median age of 16
- World Population Review — median age by country (noted as a conflicting vintage in Methodology)
- Wikipedia — List of countries by median age (CIA Factbook-based, older vintage)
Methodology
Median age is the age that divides a population into two equal halves — half older, half younger. All figures are 2026 estimates from the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-fertility variant), republished by database.earth, and are rounded to one decimal place. Where rounded figures tie — Niger/Chad, DR Congo/Mali, Mozambique/Burundi — ranks were resolved using the unrounded values. Territories (for example Mayotte) are excluded from the country ranking. Figures from other sources and vintages differ: CIA Factbook-based tables and World Population Review have placed Niger lower than shown here, so cross-source comparisons should always note the data vintage.
