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UN DESA Population Division · Median Age of the Population
Median age by country
How old is the typical person in each country?
Of the 222 countries compared in 2023, Vatican City had the highest reading, 59.625, and Central African Republic had the lowest reading, 14.320. In the middle country the figure was 31.518. Among the 222 countries measured in every edition since 1950, the middle one moved from 19.358 to 31.518.
Part ofPeople & Population
Median age · 2023
Context statistic
Highest of 222Vatican City
59.625012023 · values only
The highest and the lowest
The three countries with the highest values of 222 compared, the three with the lowest, and the highest on each continent. This statistic has no better end, so no country is shown as leading.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Lowest in 2023
Central African Republic14.320
Niger15.250
Chad15.401
This statistic has no better end: the two ends describe size, not success.
Highest on each continent
- Africa
Mauritius36.933 - Americas
Puerto Rico45.306 - AsiaJapan48.959
- EuropeVatican City59.625
- Oceania
Palau37.843 - Every region
02Every measured country
Median age on a map
Each country is shaded by its value, in five groups holding the same number of countries. Hover a country for its value, or select it to open its profile. Below the map, each continent’s middle country.
Darker is a higher value. This statistic has no better end, so the shades describe size, not success.
- 14.320–20.345
- 20.434–28.189
- 28.213–34.791
- 35.075–40.343
- 40.535–59.625
- No reading in 2023
- Europe
42.052
the middle country, of 48 measured · 49 members
Vatican City59.625
Kosovo31.430Highest and lowest reading in Europe.
- Americas
34.150
the middle country, of 48 measured · 48 members
Puerto Rico45.306
Guatemala22.631Highest and lowest reading in Americas.
- Asia
29.534
the middle country, of 51 measured · 52 members
Japan48.959
Afghanistan16.940Highest and lowest reading in Asia.
- Oceania
27.666
the middle country, of 21 measured · 21 members
Palau37.843
Samoa19.904Highest and lowest reading in Oceania.
- Africa
18.504
the middle country, of 54 measured · 55 members
Mauritius36.933Central African Republic14.320Highest and lowest reading in Africa.
- Every region
22 sub-regions, highest middle country first
- Southern Europe
43.894
the middle country, of 17 measured · 17 members
Vatican City59.625Kosovo31.430Highest and lowest reading in Southern Europe.
- Western Europe
42.331
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Monaco54.356
Luxembourg38.892Highest and lowest reading in Western Europe.
- Eastern Europe
41.647
the middle country, of 10 measured · 10 members
Bulgaria44.314
Moldova37.754Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Europe.
- Eastern Asia
41.302
the middle country, of 8 measured · 8 members
Japan48.959
Mongolia26.752Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Asia.
- Northern Europe
40.581
the middle country, of 12 measured · 13 members
Isle of Man45.676
Iceland35.808Highest and lowest reading in Northern Europe.
- Caribbean
37.710
the middle country, of 24 measured · 24 members
Puerto Rico45.306
Haiti23.511Highest and lowest reading in Caribbean.
- Western Asia
30.250
the middle country, of 18 measured · 19 members
Cyprus37.756
Yemen18.185Highest and lowest reading in Western Asia.
- South-eastern Asia
29.831
the middle country, of 11 measured · 11 members
Thailand39.658
Timor-Leste20.969Highest and lowest reading in South-eastern Asia.
- South America
29.238
the middle country, of 12 measured · 12 members
Chile35.969
Bolivia24.664Highest and lowest reading in South America.
- Polynesia
28.435
the middle country, of 7 measured · 7 members
Niue36.555Samoa19.904Highest and lowest reading in Polynesia.
- Southern Asia
28.060
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Iran32.866Afghanistan16.940Highest and lowest reading in Southern Asia.
- Northern Africa
27.692
the middle country, of 6 measured · 6 members
Tunisia32.127
Sudan18.276Highest and lowest reading in Northern Africa.
- Central America
26.451
the middle country, of 8 measured · 8 members
Costa Rica34.070Guatemala22.631Highest and lowest reading in Central America.
- Central Asia
26.232
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Kazakhstan29.465
Tajikistan21.925Highest and lowest reading in Central Asia.
- Micronesia
22.850
the middle country, of 7 measured · 7 members
Palau37.843
Nauru20.434Highest and lowest reading in Micronesia.
- Melanesia
22.344
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
New Caledonia33.891
Vanuatu20.143Highest and lowest reading in Melanesia.
- Southern Africa
21.996
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
South Africa28.213
Namibia20.957Highest and lowest reading in Southern Africa.
- Eastern Africa
18.310
the middle country, of 18 measured · 19 members
Mauritius36.933
Somalia15.447Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Africa.
- Western Africa
18.121
the middle country, of 16 measured · 16 members
Cabo Verde27.870Niger15.250Highest and lowest reading in Western Africa.
- Middle Africa
17.752
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Gabon21.503Central African Republic14.320Highest and lowest reading in Middle Africa.
- Australia and New Zealand
2 of 2 measured — too few for a middle: Australia, New Zealand.
Australia37.751
New Zealand37.280Highest and lowest reading in Australia and New Zealand.
- Northern America
4 of 4 measured — too few for a middle: Bermuda, Canada, Greenland, United States.
Bermuda45.140
Greenland34.229Highest and lowest reading in Northern America.
03The whole field at once
The spread
222 countries, one dot each, on one scale — further right is a higher value. Half the countries are above 31.518; a quarter are above 38.902, and a quarter below 22.059. The bar in each row marks that continent’s middle country.
04All 222 ever measured
Every country
In order, highest value first. No rank or position is shown: too many countries share the same value for an order to mean anything. Neither end is better, and the order is by age and nothing more. The oldest readings include very small states whose populations are unusual — a tiny resident population of clergy, or a retirement destination — so the top of the table is not a list of typical ageing societies.
Showing 25 of 222 countries
Values for 2023. The change column compares 2023 with 2022 only; the sparkline covers the recent editions.
051950–2023 · 74 reference years
Over time
Each point is one year's estimate, 1950 to 2023, as restated by the 2024 revision. The line moves slowly and almost always upwards once birth rates fall; a sharp change usually means migration, which adds or removes working-age adults in large numbers.
- the middle country
- the middle half of countries
- the middle of the 222 countries measured every time
- each continent’s middle country
The same, year by year
| Year | Countries | Middle country | Middle half | Measured every time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 222 | 31.518 | 22.059 – 38.902 | 31.518 |
| 2022 | 222 | 31.067 | 21.748 – 38.623 | 31.067 |
| 2021 | 222 | 30.737 | 21.542 – 38.327 | 30.737 |
| 2020 | 222 | 30.398 | 21.427 – 38.197 | 30.398 |
| 2019 | 222 | 30.022 | 21.291 – 37.906 | 30.022 |
| 2018 | 222 | 29.652 | 21.151 – 37.606 | 29.652 |
| 2017 | 222 | 29.287 | 21.011 – 37.532 | 29.287 |
| 2016 | 222 | 28.909 | 20.881 – 37.193 | 28.909 |
| 2015 | 222 | 28.648 | 20.730 – 36.823 | 28.648 |
| 2014 | 222 | 28.193 | 20.561 – 36.465 | 28.193 |
| 2013 | 222 | 27.879 | 20.419 – 36.225 | 27.879 |
| 2012 | 222 | 27.633 | 20.349 – 36.139 | 27.633 |
| 2011 | 222 | 27.386 | 20.193 – 35.973 | 27.386 |
| 2010 | 222 | 27.083 | 20.016 – 35.808 | 27.083 |
| 2009 | 222 | 26.869 | 19.840 – 35.490 | 26.869 |
| 2008 | 222 | 26.383 | 19.652 – 35.047 | 26.383 |
| 2007 | 222 | 25.842 | 19.481 – 34.651 | 25.842 |
| 2006 | 222 | 25.366 | 19.242 – 34.243 | 25.366 |
| 2005 | 222 | 24.942 | 18.926 – 33.777 | 24.942 |
| 2004 | 222 | 24.545 | 18.700 – 33.358 | 24.545 |
| 2003 | 222 | 24.171 | 18.402 – 33.023 | 24.171 |
| 2002 | 222 | 23.831 | 18.135 – 32.764 | 23.831 |
| 2001 | 222 | 23.542 | 17.998 – 32.535 | 23.542 |
| 2000 | 222 | 23.260 | 17.743 – 32.140 | 23.260 |
| 1999 | 222 | 23.003 | 17.556 – 31.811 | 23.003 |
| 1998 | 222 | 22.695 | 17.384 – 31.286 | 22.695 |
| 1997 | 222 | 22.393 | 17.101 – 30.744 | 22.393 |
| 1996 | 222 | 22.128 | 17.159 – 30.327 | 22.128 |
| 1995 | 222 | 21.841 | 17.042 – 30.062 | 21.841 |
| 1994 | 222 | 21.553 | 16.986 – 29.798 | 21.553 |
| 1993 | 222 | 21.294 | 16.949 – 29.393 | 21.294 |
| 1992 | 222 | 21.082 | 16.887 – 29.056 | 21.082 |
| 1991 | 222 | 20.832 | 16.898 – 28.753 | 20.832 |
| 1990 | 222 | 20.639 | 16.833 – 28.482 | 20.639 |
| 1989 | 222 | 20.398 | 16.834 – 28.146 | 20.398 |
| 1988 | 222 | 20.267 | 16.759 – 27.691 | 20.267 |
| 1987 | 222 | 20.018 | 16.748 – 27.222 | 20.018 |
| 1986 | 222 | 19.820 | 16.720 – 26.776 | 19.820 |
| 1985 | 222 | 19.645 | 16.683 – 26.409 | 19.645 |
| 1984 | 222 | 19.484 | 16.618 – 26.123 | 19.484 |
| 1983 | 222 | 19.209 | 16.611 – 25.849 | 19.209 |
| 1982 | 222 | 18.952 | 16.586 – 25.491 | 18.952 |
| 1981 | 222 | 18.733 | 16.477 – 25.182 | 18.733 |
| 1980 | 222 | 18.627 | 16.481 – 24.957 | 18.627 |
| 1979 | 222 | 18.433 | 16.387 – 24.651 | 18.433 |
| 1978 | 222 | 18.249 | 16.271 – 24.132 | 18.249 |
| 1977 | 222 | 18.125 | 16.232 – 23.775 | 18.125 |
| 1976 | 222 | 17.906 | 16.242 – 23.465 | 17.906 |
| 1975 | 222 | 17.817 | 16.184 – 23.181 | 17.817 |
| 1974 | 222 | 17.710 | 16.189 – 22.943 | 17.710 |
| 1973 | 222 | 17.639 | 16.221 – 22.729 | 17.639 |
| 1972 | 222 | 17.649 | 16.081 – 22.557 | 17.649 |
| 1971 | 222 | 17.623 | 16.123 – 22.350 | 17.623 |
| 1970 | 222 | 17.600 | 16.200 – 22.504 | 17.600 |
| 1969 | 222 | 17.634 | 16.205 – 22.449 | 17.634 |
| 1968 | 222 | 17.731 | 16.083 – 22.571 | 17.731 |
| 1967 | 222 | 17.797 | 16.140 – 22.538 | 17.797 |
| 1966 | 222 | 17.963 | 16.222 – 22.472 | 17.963 |
| 1965 | 222 | 18.123 | 16.257 – 22.593 | 18.123 |
| 1964 | 222 | 18.213 | 16.312 – 22.625 | 18.213 |
| 1963 | 222 | 18.410 | 16.420 – 22.723 | 18.410 |
| 1962 | 222 | 18.414 | 16.595 – 22.879 | 18.414 |
| 1961 | 222 | 18.463 | 16.669 – 22.737 | 18.463 |
| 1960 | 222 | 18.519 | 16.838 – 22.625 | 18.519 |
| 1959 | 222 | 18.546 | 16.987 – 22.468 | 18.546 |
| 1958 | 222 | 18.654 | 17.133 – 22.591 | 18.654 |
| 1957 | 222 | 18.645 | 17.232 – 22.702 | 18.645 |
| 1956 | 222 | 18.778 | 17.316 – 22.844 | 18.778 |
| 1955 | 222 | 18.795 | 17.336 – 23.028 | 18.795 |
| 1954 | 222 | 18.763 | 17.340 – 23.054 | 18.763 |
| 1953 | 222 | 18.886 | 17.399 – 23.011 | 18.886 |
| 1952 | 222 | 19.132 | 17.462 – 23.171 | 19.132 |
| 1951 | 222 | 19.222 | 17.514 – 23.388 | 19.222 |
| 1950 | 222 | 19.358 | 17.642 – 23.526 | 19.358 |
062022 → 2023
Who rose and fell
The biggest changes in value between the two newest editions — reference years recalculated in one report, not two separate publications. Places are shown second, because they also move when other countries do.
Rose most
before → after
Bahrain31.683 → 32.876+1.193
Kuwait33.463 → 34.499+1.035
Cook Islands34.109 → 35.075+0.966
Saint Martin38.400 → 39.363+0.962
Northern Mariana Islands35.179 → 36.136+0.957
Fell most
before → after- Monaco54.975 → 54.356−0.619
Lithuania42.633 → 42.119−0.514
Faroe Islands37.539 → 37.258−0.280
Marshall Islands20.965 → 20.699−0.265- Vatican City59.875 → 59.625−0.250
222 countries were measured in both 2022 and 2023.
07Across every edition
Median age in records
The extremes of the statistic. A record reached by more than one country names none of them.
Highest reading on record
62.417
Median age (years)
Lowest reading on record
12.617
Median age (years)
Biggest rise between editions
+3.279
35.300 → 38.579
Biggest fall between editions
−5.145
19.344 → 14.199
Biggest change since first measured
+39.964
19.661 → 59.625
Highest most often
40 of 74
editions, alone at the first-listed end
08The measure
About median age
The median age is the age that splits a country's population into two equal halves: half the people are younger, half older. It is the simplest single summary of whether a population is young or old, and it shapes almost everything from school places to pensions.
What the number is: Median age (years).
09Where it fits
Connections
Its part in the Country Index, the statistics whose values line up most closely with it across countries, and others on the same subject.
In the Country Index
Context, with no vote
This statistic is published in full under People & Population, but does not help decide any Country Index standing.
Moves with
Where median age is higher, these tend to be higher too.
- Population Aged 65 and OverUN DESA Population Division · 222 countries in commonρ 0.94
- GNI per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 102 countries in commonρ 0.90
- Human Development IndexKeyUNDP Human Development Report Office · 193 countries in commonρ 0.90
Moves against
Where median age is higher, these tend to be lower.
- Population Under Age 15UN DESA Population Division · 222 countries in commonρ −0.97
- Crude Birth RateUN DESA Population Division · 222 countries in commonρ −0.96
- Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 172 countries in commonρ −0.90
Rank correlation (ρ, from −1 to 1) across countries, on each statistic’s newest edition, out of 190 statistics sharing at least 80 countries with this one. Two statistics that move together do not cause each other.
10Keep reading
Explore further
The subject
The countries at either end
11Questions
Median age: questions and answers
Which country has the highest median age?
Vatican City, at 59.625, among the 222 countries compared in 2023.
Which country has the lowest median age?
Central African Republic, at 14.320, among the 222 countries compared in 2023.
How many countries does the Median Age of the Population cover?
222 in 2023.
What is the world average median age?
This site does not calculate a world average, which would depend on how countries are weighted. In the middle country of the 222 compared in 2023, the figure was 31.518.
Is this UN DESA Population Division’s own ranking?
No ranking is shown. UN DESA Population Division publishes values only, and too many countries share the same value for an ordering to mean anything, so none is derived.
How often is the Median Age of the Population published?
This site holds 74 reference years, 1950–2023, all recalculated in UN DESA Population Division’s 2024 report on one method — not 74 separate publications.
Where does the data come from, and can I download it?
From UN DESA Population Division, under CC BY 3.0 IGO. From World Population Prospects 2024, read from the Population Division's own CSV download. Projections are excluded. Every edition is on this site’s Datasets pages as a full table, and downloads as a CSV file with every value unrounded.
12Method
Sources, method and citation
Source
Median Age of the Population — UN DESA Population Division
From World Population Prospects 2024, read from the Population Division's own CSV download. Projections are excluded.
Newest edition
Report year 2023Data year 2023
Cite the source as: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects 2024. New York: United Nations.
Licence: CC BY 3.0 IGO, checked 2026-09-26.
How this page reads the numbers
- No rank or position is shown: UN DESA Population Division publishes values only, and too many countries share the same value for an ordering to mean anything.
- This statistic has no better end, so the page describes higher and lower values and never calls a country a leader.
- A country is named at an end only when it holds that value alone. Where several share it, the page says how many and names none first.
- Values are stored exactly as published and trimmed only for display. “The middle country” is the median of the countries measured, not a world average.
The file itself, column by column — where it came from, what each column holds, and every edition as a CSV — is on its dataset page.
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Median age by country: Median Age of the Population, data from UN DESA Population Division. https://nationsinquiry.com/statistics/median-age