On World Population Day 2026, AfriYAN Ethiopia was honored to join UNFPA Ethiopia and partners in commemorating the day and taking part in the launch of the Global Demographic Futures Survey — Lives, Choices and Futures.
The launch brought an important conversation to the forefront: What do young people want for their lives and their futures, and what enables or prevents them from realizing those aspirations?
Drawing on the voices of more than 108,000 internet-connected young adults aged 18–39 across 73 countries, the survey places young people’s aspirations, choices, and lived realities at the heart of conversations on demographic change.
For AfriYAN Ethiopia, being part of this moment was more than being present. It was about engaging in a conversation that directly concerns our generation, listening to evidence, connecting with fellow young people and partners, and contributing to the dialogue that will shape the future we inherit and create.
The findings remind us that young people’s choices are shaped not only by individual aspirations, but also by the conditions around them. Financial security, stable employment, housing, reproductive health services, and broader social and economic conditions all influence young people’s ability to realize the lives and futures they envision.
As a youth-led network, AfriYAN Ethiopia remains committed to ensuring that young people’s voices are heard, their choices are respected, and they have meaningful opportunities to shape the decisions that affect their lives and futures.
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