In 2019, there were an estimated 1.8 billion people aged 15-29 in the world population. As these people grow up, entering social and economic independence along the way, they will potentially reshape economies, politics and social relations around the world. International initiatives have put the importance of young people centre-stage for sustainable development in the future, but the knowledge base on migration patterns of young people around the world is lacking.

With this in mind, in this report the EU: 

a) defines the concepts of youth and youth migration;

b) maps demographic trends globally and in Europe to highlight where youth populations are growing or declining;

and

c) describes youth migration trends to show which young people are moving, where and why.