Youth In A Global World

In today’s world, “growing up” is not what it
used to be. The lives of youth today present a
wide range of educational, family, employment,
and health experiences that depart in major
ways from those of youth one or two generations
ago. These different experiences can be attributed
to the effects of globalization, technological
advances, and widespread economic development.
There are more youth (also referred to as
“young people” in this brief ) in the world now
than ever before, and they are concentrated in
developing countries. Youth spend a longer time in
school, begin work at a later age, and get married
and have children later than their counterparts did
20 years ago. They are also less likely to live in
poverty, unless they are growing up in sub-Saharan
Africa, or parts of Eastern Europe or Central Asia.
While in many ways the lives of young people are
more complex and challenging than ever, in most
countries they are also more varied, full of opportunity,
and more secure than in the past. In general,
modern youth spend longer preparing for adulthood
than their parents. However, the transition to
adulthood is also laden with risks and challenges,

To read more on this click on youth in a global world: This eight-page brief describes what it's like to grow up in today's world, with a special focus on four major experiences in people’s lives: schooling, health, marriage, and childbearing. It highlights changes, cites trends, and suggests ways policies and programs could further improve the lives of youth.