YOUTHQUAKE, why African demography matters

375pp., maps, paperback, Reprint, London, (2021) 2022

Almost 60 per cent of Africa's population is younger than 25 years old. By mid-century, the continent will make up a quarter of the global population, compared to one-tenth in 1980. By the end of the century, the proportion could be as much as 40 per cent.

"The youth bulge heading Africa's way is real, and in the next 30 years it will throw up economic, social and political problems for African states the like of which the world has never before witnessed. This demographic surge is neither a catastrophe nor a boon, but it is a wicked problem: one for which there is no easy or satisfactory solution. In this utterly compelling and important book, Edward Paice disentangles the facts from the fictions, the truths from the falsehoods, and tells us why Africa's future will shape the futures of us all. This is a book none of us should ignore." David M. Anderson, Professor of African History, University of Warwick

"One of the great qualities of this fascinating book is even-handedness ... Very sober, very fact-based, non-ideological - cool, calm and collected." Mark Steyn, Canadian author and a radio and television presenter

Edward Paice is Director of Africa Research Institute. He is the author of Lost Lion of Empire: The life of 'Cape-to-Cairo' Grogan, Tip & Run: the untold tragedy of the Great War in Africa and Wrath of God: The Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755.