The Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) found that 51.3% of youths between the ages of 18 and 29 lived in or near poverty in 2012, representing nearly 23.6% of the population.
27% of such youth were listed as living in poverty, with another 24.3% labeled as living near the poverty line. The remaining 48.7% of youth were labeled as not living in or near poverty.
In a statement released Monday, the CAPMAS found that 28.3% of youth were unemployed in 2012. The statement was released on International Youth Day, established in 1998 by the UN General Assembly, taking place annually on 12 August, for the purpose of recognising the vital role of youth in helping promote progress throughout the world.
The agency further found that unemployment rates among male college graduates had reached 37.8%, compared to 24.3% for mid-qualified males, and 7.9% for illiterate males.
Equivalent numbers for female youth showed 56.5% unemployment for college graduates, 53.9% for mid-qualified women, and 1.1% for illiterate women. Youth of both sexes were estimated to make up 52.3% of the work force, with 46.9% of youth working full time jobs, and 35.8% working part time.
66.1% of male youth between the ages of 18 and 29 were reported to have been married, compared to 86% for women of the same age group. 27% of male youth meanwhile were reported to have been divorced, compared to 48.6% of women.
Youth mortality rates during 2012 were recorded at one in every 1,000.
