More than half of the world’s population is under 30, and young people are increasingly at the forefront of grassroots initiatives tackling climate change, inequality, and other pressing global challenges. Marking International Youth Day on 12 August, the United Nations is celebrating the power of youth to transform communities and influence the wider world. This year’s theme, “Local youth action for the SDGs and beyond,” underscores the vital role of grassroots youth engagement in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and creating more inclusive, just societies.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised young people as bold innovators, resilient organizers, and essential partners in sustainable development. He urged them to continue driving change and assured them that their voices, ideas, and leadership are crucial. Calling for collaboration, he emphasized the need to support youth-led solutions that build a fairer, greener, and more peaceful future from the ground up.
Today’s generation of young people is growing up in a time of unprecedented global change. UN data shows that half of the global population is 30 or younger, with this share projected to rise to 57 per cent by 2030. By 2050, those under 25 today will make up over 90 per cent of the prime working-age population. An international survey revealed that 67 per cent of respondents believe in a better future, with teenagers aged 15 to 17 showing the most optimism.
However, young people still face systemic challenges. Despite global youth unemployment reaching a 15-year low, it remains at 13 per cent. One in seven adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 experiences a mental health disorder, and in low- and middle-income countries, nearly 60 per cent of 10-year-olds cannot read and understand a simple paragraph. International Youth Day 2025 aims to spotlight both these urgent challenges and the solutions already being driven by youth worldwide.
This year’s official celebration will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in partnership with UN-Habitat, the UN agency dedicated to sustainable urban development. The event will gather youth leaders, policymakers, city officials, and UN representatives to share strategies for enhancing youth participation in local development. First proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1999, International Youth Day builds on the 1995 World Programme of Action for Youth and continues to serve as a platform to elevate youth voices and leadership globally.
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