UN DESA Population Division · Population Under Age 15
Population under 15 by country
What share of each country's people are children under 15?
Of the 222 countries compared in 2023, Central African Republic had the highest reading, 49.166%, and Vatican City had the lowest reading, 6.054%. In the middle country the figure was 22.712%. Among the 222 countries measured in every edition since 1950, the middle one moved from 39.810% to 22.712%.
Share
Part ofPeople & Population
Population under 15 · 2023
Context statistic
Highest of 222Central African Republic
49.166%012023 · 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
Vatican City6.054%
Hong Kong10.699%
South Korea10.971%
This statistic has no better end: the two ends describe size, not success.
Highest on each continent
- AfricaCentral African Republic49.166%
- Americas
Guatemala32.138% - Asia
Afghanistan43.226% - Europe
Kosovo21.294% - Oceania
Samoa38.728% - Every region
02Every measured country
Population under 15 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.
- 6.054–15.867%
- 15.876–19.733%
- 19.846–26.914%
- 26.993–37.363%
- 37.401–49.166%
- No reading in 2023
- Africa
39.712%
the middle country, of 54 measured · 55 members
Central African Republic49.166%
Mauritius15.124%Highest and lowest reading in Africa.
- Oceania
27.511%
the middle country, of 21 measured · 21 members
Samoa38.728%
Australia18.030%Highest and lowest reading in Oceania.
- Asia
24.097%
the middle country, of 51 measured · 52 members
Afghanistan43.226%Hong Kong10.699%Highest and lowest reading in Asia.
- Americas
19.233%
the middle country, of 48 measured · 48 members
Guatemala32.138%
Puerto Rico12.005%Highest and lowest reading in Americas.
- Europe
15.134%
the middle country, of 48 measured · 49 members
Kosovo21.294%Vatican City6.054%Highest and lowest reading in Europe.
- Every region
22 sub-regions, highest middle country first
- Middle Africa
41.761%
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Central African Republic49.166%
Gabon36.662%Highest and lowest reading in Middle Africa.
- Western Africa
40.987%
the middle country, of 16 measured · 16 members
Niger46.966%
Cabo Verde26.371%Highest and lowest reading in Western Africa.
- Eastern Africa
39.712%
the middle country, of 18 measured · 19 members
Somalia46.679%Mauritius15.124%Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Africa.
- Melanesia
33.804%
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Vanuatu38.613%
New Caledonia21.526%Highest and lowest reading in Melanesia.
- Southern Africa
33.669%
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Namibia37.292%
South Africa26.085%Highest and lowest reading in Southern Africa.
- Micronesia
32.129%
the middle country, of 7 measured · 7 members
Nauru38.181%
Palau18.542%Highest and lowest reading in Micronesia.
- Central Asia
31.670%
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Tajikistan36.506%
Kazakhstan29.539%Highest and lowest reading in Central Asia.
- Northern Africa
29.300%
the middle country, of 6 measured · 6 members
Sudan40.649%
Tunisia24.435%Highest and lowest reading in Northern Africa.
- Polynesia
27.511%
the middle country, of 7 measured · 7 members
Samoa38.728%
French Polynesia19.733%Highest and lowest reading in Polynesia.
- Central America
26.134%
the middle country, of 8 measured · 8 members
Guatemala32.138%
Costa Rica19.331%Highest and lowest reading in Central America.
- Southern Asia
25.057%
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Afghanistan43.226%
Maldives20.049%Highest and lowest reading in Southern Asia.
- South America
24.681%
the middle country, of 12 measured · 12 members
Bolivia30.142%
Chile17.384%Highest and lowest reading in South America.
- South-eastern Asia
24.516%
the middle country, of 11 measured · 11 members
Timor-Leste34.230%
Singapore11.787%Highest and lowest reading in South-eastern Asia.
- Western Asia
23.221%
the middle country, of 18 measured · 19 members
Yemen41.226%
Qatar15.161%Highest and lowest reading in Western Asia.
- Caribbean
17.678%
the middle country, of 24 measured · 24 members
Haiti31.572%Puerto Rico12.005%Highest and lowest reading in Caribbean.
- Northern Europe
16.238%
the middle country, of 12 measured · 13 members
Faroe Islands20.157%
Isle of Man14.523%Highest and lowest reading in Northern Europe.
- Eastern Europe
15.775%
the middle country, of 10 measured · 10 members
Moldova19.992%
Ukraine14.296%Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Europe.
- Western Europe
15.011%
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
France16.785%
Monaco13.179%Highest and lowest reading in Western Europe.
- Southern Europe
13.587%
the middle country, of 17 measured · 17 members
Kosovo21.294%Vatican City6.054%Highest and lowest reading in Southern Europe.
- Eastern Asia
13.020%
the middle country, of 8 measured · 8 members
Mongolia32.637%Hong Kong10.699%Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Asia.
- Australia and New Zealand
2 of 2 measured — too few for a middle: Australia, New Zealand.
New Zealand18.375%Australia18.030%Highest and lowest reading in Australia and New Zealand.
- Northern America
4 of 4 measured — too few for a middle: Bermuda, Canada, Greenland, United States.
Greenland20.803%
Bermuda13.878%Highest 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 22.712%; a quarter are above 34.123%, and a quarter below 16.611%. 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. A high share means many children for every adult of working age — a cost today and a workforce tomorrow at once. A low share usually marks low birth rates and an ageing society; the very lowest readings include small states whose resident populations are unusual, which is a fact about who lives there rather than about families.
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 share falls as birth rates fall, and it falls first: the decline among children shows up decades before the rise in the share of people aged 65 and over.
- 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 | 22.712% | 16.611% – 34.123% | 22.712% |
| 2022 | 222 | 23.085% | 16.967% – 34.493% | 23.085% |
| 2021 | 222 | 23.472% | 17.052% – 34.422% | 23.472% |
| 2020 | 222 | 23.868% | 17.211% – 34.696% | 23.868% |
| 2019 | 222 | 24.130% | 17.457% – 35.132% | 24.130% |
| 2018 | 222 | 24.478% | 17.622% – 35.638% | 24.478% |
| 2017 | 222 | 24.717% | 17.917% – 36.166% | 24.717% |
| 2016 | 222 | 24.888% | 18.098% – 36.350% | 24.888% |
| 2015 | 222 | 25.096% | 18.171% – 36.484% | 25.096% |
| 2014 | 222 | 25.395% | 18.330% – 36.576% | 25.395% |
| 2013 | 222 | 25.681% | 18.454% – 36.701% | 25.681% |
| 2012 | 222 | 25.945% | 18.577% – 36.772% | 25.945% |
| 2011 | 222 | 26.195% | 18.729% – 36.990% | 26.195% |
| 2010 | 222 | 26.719% | 18.876% – 36.821% | 26.719% |
| 2009 | 222 | 27.135% | 19.008% – 37.107% | 27.135% |
| 2008 | 222 | 27.750% | 19.139% – 37.792% | 27.750% |
| 2007 | 222 | 27.897% | 19.301% – 38.191% | 27.897% |
| 2006 | 222 | 28.362% | 19.602% – 38.571% | 28.362% |
| 2005 | 222 | 28.958% | 20.015% – 39.033% | 28.958% |
| 2004 | 222 | 29.292% | 20.502% – 39.395% | 29.292% |
| 2003 | 222 | 29.879% | 20.761% – 39.943% | 29.879% |
| 2002 | 222 | 30.630% | 21.144% – 40.537% | 30.630% |
| 2001 | 222 | 31.360% | 21.701% – 41.191% | 31.360% |
| 2000 | 222 | 31.928% | 22.022% – 41.717% | 31.928% |
| 1999 | 222 | 32.488% | 22.485% – 42.185% | 32.488% |
| 1998 | 222 | 33.195% | 23.002% – 42.866% | 33.195% |
| 1997 | 222 | 33.559% | 23.356% – 43.096% | 33.559% |
| 1996 | 222 | 33.845% | 23.674% – 43.068% | 33.845% |
| 1995 | 222 | 34.272% | 24.257% – 43.243% | 34.272% |
| 1994 | 222 | 34.774% | 24.713% – 43.378% | 34.774% |
| 1993 | 222 | 35.217% | 24.912% – 43.592% | 35.217% |
| 1992 | 222 | 35.445% | 24.870% – 43.810% | 35.445% |
| 1991 | 222 | 35.709% | 25.235% – 43.887% | 35.709% |
| 1990 | 222 | 36.057% | 25.263% – 43.892% | 36.057% |
| 1989 | 222 | 36.470% | 25.290% – 43.976% | 36.470% |
| 1988 | 222 | 36.911% | 25.291% – 44.054% | 36.911% |
| 1987 | 222 | 37.332% | 25.481% – 44.095% | 37.332% |
| 1986 | 222 | 37.580% | 25.920% – 44.162% | 37.580% |
| 1985 | 222 | 37.768% | 26.246% – 44.222% | 37.768% |
| 1984 | 222 | 38.033% | 26.471% – 44.229% | 38.033% |
| 1983 | 222 | 38.301% | 26.716% – 44.361% | 38.301% |
| 1982 | 222 | 38.619% | 27.017% – 44.399% | 38.619% |
| 1981 | 222 | 39.255% | 27.624% – 44.386% | 39.255% |
| 1980 | 222 | 39.680% | 28.077% – 44.513% | 39.680% |
| 1979 | 222 | 40.231% | 28.839% – 44.570% | 40.231% |
| 1978 | 222 | 40.696% | 29.523% – 44.799% | 40.696% |
| 1977 | 222 | 41.041% | 29.996% – 44.846% | 41.041% |
| 1976 | 222 | 41.221% | 30.793% – 45.024% | 41.221% |
| 1975 | 222 | 41.436% | 31.157% – 45.140% | 41.436% |
| 1974 | 222 | 41.861% | 31.854% – 45.235% | 41.861% |
| 1973 | 222 | 42.147% | 32.303% – 45.197% | 42.147% |
| 1972 | 222 | 42.337% | 32.331% – 45.162% | 42.337% |
| 1971 | 222 | 42.522% | 32.920% – 45.243% | 42.522% |
| 1970 | 222 | 42.676% | 33.285% – 45.453% | 42.676% |
| 1969 | 222 | 42.745% | 33.600% – 45.507% | 42.745% |
| 1968 | 222 | 42.681% | 33.994% – 45.503% | 42.681% |
| 1967 | 222 | 42.563% | 34.347% – 45.580% | 42.563% |
| 1966 | 222 | 42.194% | 34.535% – 45.414% | 42.194% |
| 1965 | 222 | 42.038% | 34.823% – 45.357% | 42.038% |
| 1964 | 222 | 41.830% | 35.056% – 45.281% | 41.830% |
| 1963 | 222 | 41.552% | 35.417% – 45.164% | 41.552% |
| 1962 | 222 | 41.574% | 35.802% – 45.094% | 41.574% |
| 1961 | 222 | 41.503% | 35.430% – 44.825% | 41.503% |
| 1960 | 222 | 41.097% | 35.843% – 44.559% | 41.097% |
| 1959 | 222 | 40.929% | 35.725% – 44.340% | 40.929% |
| 1958 | 222 | 40.864% | 34.849% – 43.989% | 40.864% |
| 1957 | 222 | 40.824% | 34.426% – 43.647% | 40.824% |
| 1956 | 222 | 40.752% | 34.038% – 43.241% | 40.752% |
| 1955 | 222 | 40.540% | 33.699% – 43.134% | 40.540% |
| 1954 | 222 | 40.457% | 33.585% – 43.035% | 40.457% |
| 1953 | 222 | 40.140% | 33.108% – 42.881% | 40.140% |
| 1952 | 222 | 40.210% | 33.250% – 42.786% | 40.210% |
| 1951 | 222 | 40.250% | 32.992% – 42.665% | 40.250% |
| 1950 | 222 | 39.810% | 32.355% – 42.647% | 39.810% |
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
Tuvalu31.986% → 32.601%+0.616
Uzbekistan30.568% → 30.871%+0.303- Monaco12.901% → 13.179%+0.278
Saint Martin20.964% → 21.131%+0.166- Vatican City5.923% → 6.054%+0.131
Fell most
before → after
Syria31.935% → 30.336%−1.599
South Sudan40.854% → 39.852%−1.003
Oman26.221% → 25.228%−0.993
Anguilla17.998% → 17.124%−0.874- Cabo Verde27.175% → 26.371%−0.804
222 countries were measured in both 2022 and 2023.
07Across every edition
Population under 15 in records
The extremes of the statistic. A record reached by more than one country names none of them.
Highest reading on record
54.698%
Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%)
Lowest reading on record
5.777%
Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%)
Biggest rise between editions
+11.789
40.988% → 52.777%
Biggest fall between editions
−5.526
43.951% → 38.425%
Biggest change since first measured
+12.460
36.707% → 49.166%
Highest most often
2 countries share this record — no holder is named
13 of 74
editions
08The measure
About population under 15
The share of a country's population aged under 15 is the plainest measure of how young a population is. It tells a government how many school places, vaccinations and, a few years later, jobs it must plan for.
What the number is: Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%).
What it does not measure
It counts ages, not circumstances: it says nothing about whether those children are in school, healthy or provided for.
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 population under 15 is higher, these tend to be higher too.
- Crude Birth RateUN DESA Population Division · 222 countries in commonρ 0.98
- Total Fertility RateUN DESA Population Division · 222 countries in commonρ 0.94
- Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 172 countries in commonρ 0.89
Moves against
Where population under 15 is higher, these tend to be lower.
- Median Age of the PopulationUN DESA Population Division · 222 countries in commonρ −0.97
- GNI per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 102 countries in commonρ −0.91
- Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 172 countries in commonρ −0.89
Rank correlation (ρ, from −1 to 1) across countries, on each statistic’s newest edition, out of 386 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
Population under 15: questions and answers
Which country has the highest population under 15?
Central African Republic, at 49.166%, among the 222 countries compared in 2023.
Which country has the lowest population under 15?
Vatican City, at 6.054%, among the 222 countries compared in 2023.
How many countries does the Population Under Age 15 cover?
222 in 2023.
What is the world average population under 15?
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 22.712%.
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 Population Under Age 15 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 workbook of age-group shares (POP/F06-1), which publishes the share directly at full precision — not rebuilt by adding up the rounded five-year age groups in the CSV files. 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
Population Under Age 15 — UN DESA Population Division
From World Population Prospects 2024, read from the Population Division's own workbook of age-group shares (POP/F06-1), which publishes the share directly at full precision — not rebuilt by adding up the rounded five-year age groups in the CSV files. Projections are excluded.
Newest edition
Report year 2023Data year 2023
Cite the source as: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition.
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). Population under 15 by country: Population Under Age 15, data from UN DESA Population Division. https://nationsinquiry.com/statistics/population-under-15