Home > Adolescent and young adult health.

World Health Organization. (2023) Adolescent and young adult health. Geneva: World Health Organization.

External website: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detai...


Survival chances for adolescents and young adults vary greatly across the world. In 2020, the probability of dying among those aged 10–24 years was highest in sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), northern Africa and southern Asia (1). The average global probability of a 10-year-old dying before age 24 was 6 times higher in sub-Saharan Africa than in North America and Europe.

Key facts

  • Over 1.5 million adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years died in 2020, nearly 5000 every day.
    Young adolescents aged 10–14 years have the lowest risk of death of all age groups.
  • Injuries (including road traffic injuries and drowning), violence, self-harm and maternal conditions are the leading causes of death among adolescents and young adults
  • Half of all mental health disorders in adulthood start by age 14, but most cases are undetected and untreated.
  • Early onset of substance use is associated with higher risks of developing dependence and other problems during adult life, and people of younger ages are disproportionately affected by substance use compared with people of older ages.
  • Globally, there were 41 births per 1000 to girls aged 15–19 years in 2020.

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