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With a population of 1.4 billion people spread across 54 countries, Africa contains 23 of the world’s 27 poorest countries.
(PRB 2022, World Population Review 2022)
Africa’s unemployment rate (7.9%) exceeds the global average (5.6%). (AfDB 2021)
Most people in Africa sustain themselves in informal jobs, which account for 85.8% of all employment. Informal workers tend to receive low wages and have no social safety net. (ILO 2020)
Economic uncertainties, environmental problems, and the world’s lowest educational attainment and literacy rates are the structural context for TVET provision in Africa. (Brookings 2022)
Multiple challenges – including limited education budgets, inadequate infrastructure, low staff capacity, and a large fast-growing youth population – make providing up-to-date TVET in Africa a mammoth task. (European Commission 2015)
Continent-wide, Africa’s average age is 19.7 and is rapidly getting younger. India’s average age is 29 and China’s 37.
A third of those aged between 15 and 35 are unemployed. Another third is underemployed.
At least 15 million youth enter the workforce each year. They are competing for the three million formal jobs created annually.
Africa’s demographic window is a time-bound opportunity – and challenge – for catalyzing economic growth and poverty reduction.
This is the time to invest in education to equip children, youth and adults with skills to survive and excel in the 21st century.
Key facts
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19.7 years
is the median age of the population across Africa. In Asia it is 32.0 years and in Europe it is 42.5 years.
(Mo Ibrahim Foundation 2020)
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UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre
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42%
of the world’s youth will likely be from Africa in 2030.
(PRB 2019)
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UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre
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53113 Bonn, Germany
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1/3
of African youth aged 15-35 are currently unemployed. Another one-third is underemployed.
(AfDB 2021)
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UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre
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10-12 million
African youth enter the labour force each year. Only 3 million new formal sector jobs are created annually.
(AfDB 2021)
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UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre
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UN Campus, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1
53113 Bonn, Germany
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Africa’s demographic window is a time-bound opportunity – and challenge – for catalyzing economic growth and poverty reduction.
TVET is widely regarded as a means to provide pathways to decent employment and tackle youth unemployment.
(UNESCO-UNEVOC 2013)
Yet formal TVET enrolments are low compared to secondary school enrolments in most African countries, on average and especially among female students.
(World Bank 2019)
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The BILT project is implemented by
with support of
and sponsored by
UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre
for Technical and Vocational Education and Training
UN Campus, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1
53113 Bonn, Germany
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