An illuminating study of the population explosion in Africa, uncovering what it means for the continent and why, in demographic terms, this will be Africa's century

Africa's population growth in the last 50 years has been unprecedented. During India's rapid phase of growth, its population increased by 5.2 times; during Europe's, growth was 2.2 times. Between 1950 and 2050, Africa's is projected to have increased tenfold.

But what is most remarkable is Africa's youth. Almost 60% of the continent's population is younger than 25 years old. Economists call this phenomenon a 'youth bulge' – a temporary boom. Edward Paice proposes that it is rather a youthquake, with potentially enormous resonances on the social, economic and political reality in Africa.

Edward Paice presents the demographics and demographic trends of the 54 countries that make up the continent, along with their ramifications, both today and in the future. Rather than a panoply of promises for the glowing future of a post-boom Africa or a doom-laden array, Youthquake seeks to dispel the agenda-heavy received wisdom popular in accounts of Africa's demography, disaggregate the continent for a more nuanced analysis, and provide a balanced view of Africa's future.