Two thirds of Egypt’s population is under the age of 30.
Tim Elmore, a leading Christian thinker on Leadership among emerging generations, wrote a blog post this past summer (based on his book Generation iY) with two stunning facts. At the time I read them I was a bit skeptical, but the recent events in Tunisia and Egypt have proved him right:
FACT: In the next fifteen years, half of the world’s population will be 21-years-old or younger.
FACT: When there is a bulge in the youth population, there is always violence.
Gunnar Heinsohn, a social scientist at the University of Bremen (Germany) writes that when 15—29-year-olds make up more than 30% of the population – violence occurs.
Today, there are 67 countries where a “youth bulge” exists. (That is, populations where more than 30% are young adults or kids.) 60 of those countries are presently in civil war or are experiencing mass killings.
Of the 27 biggest “youth bulge” nations, 13 are Muslim. Those kids will find expression, even if they take it out on the rest of the world.
The New York Times reports the recent Egyptian protests have been driven primarily by the Youth of Eqypt.
In our own country, this generation of Millenials (age 10-30) is the largest American generation (larger than the Baby Boomer generation).
This generation, whether here in the U.S. or around the globe, will change the world.
It underscores, now more than ever, the need to reach this generation with the Gospel – here in the U.S. and on college campuses around the world.
photo courtesy of Sarah Carr