A major @StandardBankZA report, released this morning, reviews the shifts in Africa’s demographic balance over the past decade. The author, @SACFreemantle, asks: is Africa harnessing the opportunities that emerge from these demographic alterations? A thread:

"We (a) consider how 2020 (or 2019) data points compare with our expectations in our initial series; and (b) whether, and to what extent, Africa's future demographic trajectory has been reshaped by the pace of change reflected since 2010"

And: "It is more important than ever to appreciate the scale and resilience of Africa’s structural progress...In so doing, we can cast a more informed eye at the decade(s) ahead...bearing in mind the enormity of the impact of #COVID19 on its more immediate economic prospects"

Africa is as youthful now as it was a decade ago. Due to robust population growth, its median age has remained at 2010 levels, at 19.7. This is well below the global average, as well as significantly below the #BRICS and Asian averages (see Figure 22 in the report).

Over past decade, Africa’s working age population has increased by 180m, to 750m: its share of world’s workforce has swelled from 11% in 2010, to 15% today. Since 2000 its working age population has grown by 31%, cf 17% in India, 4% in North America (see Figures 23, 24).

Today, the average person born in Africa can expect to live to the age of 63, compared to 57 in 2010, and 52 in 2000. "At this rate, by 2050 Africa’s life expectancy at birth will stand at 70, which is roughly the global average today."

Download @SACFreemantle's lengthy analysis: Ten years on - a review of the trends driving Africa’s allure. Trend 1: A larger, younger and more affluent population. https://bit.ly/33sRU9X