Youth

Asia-Pacific contains 60 per cent of the world’s youth population, or 750 million young persons aged 15 to 24 years. Today’s generation of youth is the largest in history, with the majority living in developing countries. Countries in the ESCAP region are in a prime position to harness the full potential of their youth populations to promote inclusive and sustainable development. ESCAP’s work on youth focuses on the untapped potential of youth to further contribute to development in the region, recognizing that young people can play much greater roles in decisions that influence the opportunities they face and the environments they live in.
 
There are commonalities in the situation and challenges faced by youth around the world. High levels of youth unemployment* are prevalent, education** systems are under pressure to adapt and better prepare youth for the school-to-work transition in the modern economy, and there are threats to the health*** and well-being of young people. Social exclusion and a lack of structured opportunities for youth participation in public life have limited the role of youth in decision-making processes, which has further sowed the seeds for political instability in diverse settings.