ISTANBUL
There are more young people today than at any other time in human history, according to a UN report released on Tuesday
Almost a quarter of the world population, i.e. 1.8 billion out 7.1 billion, consists of youths between the ages of 10 and 24, says the United Nations Population Fund report.
"Never before have there been so many young people," says the report "State of world population 2014," released in Istanbul - and simultaneously all around the world - on Tuesday by the Eastern Europe and Central Asia regional offices of the UN agency.
"The highest proportion of young people today is in poor countries, where barriers to their development and fulfillment of their potential are the highest," says the report, adding that almost nine out of 10 young people live in less developed countries.
In the world's 48 least developed countries, the majority of people are children, or adolescents, while in 17 developing countries, including Afghanistan and sub-Saharan African countries, half the population is under age 18.
Those countries, the report claims, will soon face challenges in order to meet the needs of rising younger generations.
"Young people matter, because they are the shapers and leaders of our global future," the report says. "They matter because they have inherent human rights that must be fulfilled."
With 19 million youths, Turkey has the youngest population in Europe, says the report.
"We need more comprehensive policies for youth which also encourage the participation of young people in decision making processes," said the assistant representative of the UN development agency's office in Turkey Zeynep Basarankut.
"Never again is there likely to be such potential for economic and social progress," the report claims.
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