UN report: Half of the world population are adolescents
October 13, 2003
KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. – Half of the world’s 6.3 billion population are adolescents, according to a United Nations World Population Fund World Population Report 2003 which will be launched tomorrow.
With at least 1.2 billion teenagers preparing to enter adulthood, they are considered as the largest generation of adolescents in human history by the fund.
UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, in a statement, said the decisions young people make would shape the world and the prospects of future generations.
He also encouraged recognition of their rights in health, information and services and said this would reduce poverty and improve economic progress.