Adolescents, Families, and Globalization in the Twenty-First Century

We are currently facing the largest wave of adolescents in human history: according to United Nations estimates, there are globally 1.2 billion young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years, and they comprise about 16% of the global population. The largest group of young people lives in less developed countries: the UN estimates the number at about 89%, and India is the country with the greatest number of youth estimated at about 600 million individuals under the age of 25. Due to the fact that most of these young people live in the poorest nations on the globe, they have very limited opportunities with respect to schooling, healthcare, paid employment, and access to technology. Their experiences contrast with young people who are growing up in high-income contexts. Well-to-do adolescents are increasingly globally interconnected, can choose from a wide variety of educational and occupational opportunities, and often have varied and rich lives. This chapter addresses some of the issues the youth in both low- and high-income countries are facing and suggests policies and programs that can support them.