Share of population under 15 — all countries

Share of population under 15 — Western Africa

Share of population under 15 in Western Africa in 2025 — 40.6%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 1.1 pp.

2025 40.6% −0.4 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 45.8%1988
Period minimum 40.6%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Share of population under 15 — Western Africa, 1960–20254042444619601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 41.7%1962: 41.9%1964: 42.2%1966: 42.6%1968: 42.9%1970: 43.2%1972: 43.6%1974: 43.9%1976: 44.3%1978: 44.6%1980: 44.9%1982: 45.3%1984: 45.5%1986: 45.7%1988: 45.8%1990: 45.7%1992: 45.4%1994: 45.1%1996: 44.8%1998: 44.6%2000: 44.3%2002: 44.3%2004: 44.2%2006: 44.3%2008: 44.3%2010: 44.2%2012: 44.2%2014: 44%2016: 43.8%2018: 43.3%2020: 42.7%2022: 41.9%2024: 41.1%2025: 40.6%
Change over the period: −1.1 pp Annual average: -0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Africa

Western Africa 40.6%
World 24.4%
Share of population under 15 — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 40.6 −0.4 pp
2024 41.1 −0.4 pp
2023 41.5 −0.4 pp
2022 41.9 −0.4 pp
2021 42.3 −0.4 pp
2020 42.7 −0.3 pp
2019 43 −0.3 pp
2018 43.3 −0.3 pp
2017 43.6 −0.2 pp
2016 43.8 −0.2 pp
2015 43.9 −0.1 pp
2014 44 −0.1 pp
2013 44.1 −0.1 pp
2012 44.2 −0 pp
2011 44.2 −0 pp
2010 44.2 −0 pp
2009 44.3 −0 pp
2008 44.3 −0 pp
2007 44.3 +0 pp
2006 44.3 +0 pp
2005 44.2 +0 pp
2004 44.2 −0 pp
2003 44.2 −0 pp
2002 44.3 −0 pp
2001 44.3 −0 pp
2000 44.3 −0.1 pp
1999 44.4 −0.1 pp
1998 44.6 −0.1 pp
1997 44.7 −0.1 pp
1996 44.8 −0.1 pp
1995 45 −0.2 pp
1994 45.1 −0.2 pp
1993 45.3 −0.1 pp
1992 45.4 −0.1 pp
1991 45.6 −0.1 pp
1990 45.7 −0.1 pp
1989 45.7 −0 pp
1988 45.8 +0 pp
1987 45.8 +0 pp
1986 45.7 +0.1 pp
1985 45.6 +0.1 pp
1984 45.5 +0.1 pp
1983 45.4 +0.1 pp
1982 45.3 +0.2 pp
1981 45.1 +0.2 pp
1980 44.9 +0.2 pp
1979 44.8 +0.2 pp
1978 44.6 +0.2 pp
1977 44.4 +0.2 pp
1976 44.3 +0.2 pp
1975 44.1 +0.2 pp
1974 43.9 +0.2 pp
1973 43.7 +0.2 pp
1972 43.6 +0.2 pp
1971 43.4 +0.2 pp
1970 43.2 +0.2 pp
1969 43.1 +0.2 pp
1968 42.9 +0.2 pp
1967 42.7 +0.2 pp
1966 42.6 +0.2 pp
1965 42.4 +0.2 pp
1964 42.2 +0.2 pp
1963 42 +0.2 pp
1962 41.9 +0.1 pp
1961 41.8 +0.1 pp
1960 41.7

About the indicator

The share of population aged 0 to 14. In sub-Saharan Africa this share exceeds 40%, while in East Asia and Europe it drops below 15%. A high share of children means fast growth of the labor force in the future, but also a heavy current load on the education system.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.