“World Youth Day” can mean two things. The United Nations holds International Youth Day on 12 August. The Catholic Church holds a separate World Youth Day gathering, which isn’t on a fixed date each year.
This countdown follows the UN day.
How to use the World Youth Day Countdown#
- Choose what to count to. Stay on the next World Youth Day, or look a year further ahead.
- The figures are worked out when the page loads and again when you change an option or return to the tab.
- Use the extras. International Youth Day is on 12 August every year. Total hours, minutes and sleeps are listed underneath.
The UN day#
The UN General Assembly endorsed 12 August as International Youth Day in 1999, following a recommendation from the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth. It was first marked in 2000. Each year has a theme about issues that affect young people, such as education, jobs, health and taking part in decisions.
When is International Youth Day in the next few years?#
International Youth Day is on 12 August every year.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 12 August | Thursday |
| 2028 | 12 August | Saturday |
| 2029 | 12 August | Sunday |
| 2030 | 12 August | Monday |
| 2031 | 12 August | Tuesday |
The youth population in numbers#
The UN defines youth as people between 15 and 24 years old, though other bodies use wider ranges. Sub-Saharan Africa has the youngest population in the world, with a median age under 20, and Nigeria’s median age is around 18. That puts young people at the centre of questions about schools, jobs and housing. The African Youth Charter, adopted by the African Union in 2006, sets out rights and duties for people aged 15 to 35.
Themes that return each year#
The UN has covered education, mental health, employment, climate action and digital skills in recent years. Its Youth 2030 strategy, launched in 2018, aims to bring young people into decisions that affect them. In Nigeria, the National Youth Service Corps, set up in 1973, gives graduates a year of service in another part of the country, and the day is often used to talk about jobs after the service ends.
The Catholic gathering in Seoul#
Catholic World Youth Day is a separate event from the UN’s International Youth Day. It was launched by Pope John Paul II in 1985 and is held every few years in a different city. The next gathering is planned for Seoul, South Korea, in August 2027. If your plans are for that event, check the Vatican’s official site for dates, registration and fees. International Youth Day on 12 August falls on a Thursday in 2027.
Quick facts#
- About 1.2 billion people are aged 15 to 24, roughly one in six people on Earth.
- Youth unemployment is higher than adult unemployment nearly everywhere, and many young people work informally with no contract.
- The African Union declared 2009 to 2018 a decade of youth development, and its Agenda 2063 names young people as a driver of growth.
- Young people are more likely than older groups to be online, which makes digital skills one of the main themes.
Frequently asked questions#
12 August.
The UN uses 15 to 24 for statistics, though countries define it differently.
No. International Youth Day is a UN observance on 12 August each year, aimed at raising awareness of issues affecting young people. World Youth Day is a Catholic gathering with the Pope that takes place every few years in a different city. People often use the names interchangeably, so check which one you mean.
Run a debate or a forum, volunteer, start a small project in the community or write to a local official about an issue. Organisations can invite young speakers and put them on panels, not just in the audience. The UN encourages governments to include young people in decisions, so contacting your representative is a good step.
Start with government programmes, school career offices, local business groups and non-profit training schemes. Online courses can add skills in design, coding or data. Apprenticeships and volunteer roles build experience that employers value. Look for programmes run by the UN, the African Union or your national youth ministry, and ask what skills local employers are short of.