Young population linked to total growth rate
Comparing Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands), per capita with Total population (thousands), annual growth rate across 211 countries, 2020–2025.
- Rank correlation
- +0.71
- Holding size constant
- +0.65
- Countries compared
- 211
- Period
- 2020–2025
What might link these
The relationship between the population aged 14 years or younger and the total population annual growth rate might be influenced by factors such as birth rates and family planning policies. A careful reader should be cautious about assuming a direct causal link, considering potential confounders like education levels. The correlation persists even after controlling for population and GDP, suggesting a more complex relationship.
Why this is not proof of anything
This is a correlation across countries, not an experiment. It cannot show that either indicator causes the other, and both may simply follow a third thing. This correlation could mislead by implying a causal link between a young population and overall growth, when in fact other demographic or socioeconomic factors might be driving the relationship.
The second figure above repeats the measurement with national population and income held constant. It is the more conservative number: a relationship that largely disappears there was mostly telling you that larger, richer countries have more of most things.
How this was measured
Both indicators were ranked across every country reporting each, and the two rankings compared — ranks rather than raw values, because a handful of very large countries can otherwise manufacture a relationship on their own. The calculation is arithmetic over figures already published on this site; the commentary above is drafted from the two indicator names and the resulting coefficients.