International Youth Day gifts supplies and resources at farmers market online

International Youth Day 2008

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 12 August as International Youth Day to draw attention to youth issues worldwide.

On this day people around the world organize concerts, workshops, cultural events, fund-raisers, rallies and meetings that involve national and local government officials, youth organizations and young people.

World Youth Demographics

In 1995, the world youth population - defined by the United Nations as the ages 15-24 - was estimated to be 1.03 billion, or 18 per cent of the total world population.

The majority of the world youth population (84 per cent in 1995) lives in developing countries. This figure is projected to increase to 89 per cent by 2025.

The difficult circumstances that people experience in many developing countries are often even more difficult for young people because of limited opportunities for education and training, viable employment and health and social services, and because of a growing
incidence of substance abuse and juvenile delinquency. Many developing countries are also experiencing unprecedented rates of rural-urban migration by young people.