Intervention Prof. Latif DRAMANI- University of Copenhagen-October 2026
Potential and monitoring of the Demographic Dividend in Africa: methodologies and results
Africa’s demographic transformation presents both a major development opportunity and a significant challenge for public policy. With a rapidly growing working-age population, the continent has considerable potential to capitalize on the demographic dividend. However, realizing this potential depends on African countries’ ability to translate demographic changes into productive employment, human capital development, social investment, and sustainable economic growth.
This presentation focuses on the potential of the Demographic Dividend in Africa, as well as the main methodologies for assessing, measuring, and monitoring its evolution in different countries . It will highlight the analytical approaches, indicators, and monitoring tools developed by the Regional Consortium for Research in Generational Economics (CREG) to determine countries’ position in their demographic transition and assess their capacity to capitalize on the opportunities associated with this transition.
The presentation will also draw on empirical and comparative results, illustrating the differences between African countries and highlighting the main factors likely to accelerate or hinder the realization of the Demographic Dividend.
The overall objective is to provide researchers and students with a scientific, operational and evidence-based understanding of how to measure and track the Demographic Dividend, and how to translate its potential into concrete and effective public policies.
Expected results
Following the presentation, participants will have a better understanding:
- methodologies for measuring and evaluating the Demographic Dividend;
- indicators and tools for monitoring the demographic transition;
- the main empirical results observed in Africa;
- factors that promote or limit the capture of the Demographic Dividend;
- priorities to transform demographic dynamics into inclusive and sustainable development.
Keywords
Demographic dividend; Africa; demographic transition; human capital; labor market; economic growth; measurement; monitoring; methodologies; public policies; compelling evidence; sustainable development, DDMI, GDDI, LDDI, CREG.
