Youth bulges and political participation in sub-Saharan Africa: What will the future bring?

Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s youngest population, with over 60% aged under 25. This ‘youth bulge’ offers both opportunities for democratic renewal and risks for political instability. Using Afrobarometer data from 39 African countries over 1999–2021 and an age-period-cohort approach, this policy brief advances recent research on how youth bulges shape political participation, specifically voting and protests. As youth ratios rise, electoral turnout declines while protesting increases. This underscores the urgency of targeted policies to enhance youth inclusion, reduce structural barriers and channel civic engagement for constructive democratic participation.