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The African Gourmet: Folktales, Cuisine & Cultural History

Explore Africa’s Heritage

Explore tales that carry Africa’s wisdom, courage, and humor. From river spirits to trickster animals, every story holds a lesson.

From hearty stews to fragrant grains, experience traditional African recipes and the history behind every dish.

Ancient African proverbs and modern interpretations — explore the wisdom passed down through generations.

Dive into Africa’s kingdoms, independence stories, and modern milestones that shape the continent today.

Median age in Africa is 21 years old

Africa is old but young, the median age in Africa is 21 years old.

Young man fishing in Madagascar.
Madagascar's median age is 20.3, the 35th youngest country in the world

The average age of the world's population is 29.6 years with Niger being the youngest in the world at 14.8 years and Monaco on the French Riviera at 55.4 years old.

Niger average age is 14.8, the youngest African country and the youngest country in the world. The African islands of Seychelles is the oldest African country with an average age of 36.8.

Worlds top ten youngest countries Median Age
Niger 14.8
Uganda 15.7
Angola 15.9
Mali 16
Chad 16.1
Democratic Republic of the Congo 16.7
Malawi 16.8
Zambia 16.8
Mozambique 17
Benin 17

The African land is billions of years old but the population age is young, very young in fact averaging 21 years old with a high average life expectancy median age of 64.5 years. There are 226 countries in the world; Africa has 26 countries in the top 30 youngest countries in the world by population age.

List of African countries by median age.

Youngest Age Rank African County Average Age
1 Niger 14.8
2 Uganda 15.7
3 Angola 15.9
4 Mali 16
5 Chad 16.1
6 Democratic Republic of the Congo 16.7
7 Malawi 16.8
8 Zambia 16.8
9 Mozambique 17
10 Benin 17
11 Burundi 17.7
12 Burkina Faso 17.8
13 Liberia 18
14 Guinea Bissau 18
16 Tanzania 18.2
17 Sudan 18.3
18 Somalia 18.5
19 Cameroon 18.5
20 South Sudan 18.6
21 Nigeria 18.6
22 Sierra Leone 19.1
23 Guinea 19.1
24 Sao Tome and Principe 19.3
25 Senegal 19.3
26 Republic of the Congo 19.5
29 Rwanda 19.7
31 Ethiopia 19.8
32 Togo 20
33 Kenya 20
34 Central African Republic 20
35 Madagascar 20.3
36 Eritrea 20.3
37 Equatorial Guinea 20.3
38 Cote d'Ivoire 20.3
39 Zimbabwe 20.5
41 Mauritania 21
42 Gabon 21
44 Ghana 21.4
45 Namibia 21.8
46 Gambia, The 21.8
54 Eswatini 23.7
62 Egypt 24.1
64 Lesotho 24.7
65 Djibouti 24.9
71 Botswana 25.7
72 Libya 25.8
77 Cabo Verde 26.8
86 South Africa 28
89 Algeria 28.9
91 Morocco 29.1
121 Tunisia 32.7
148 Mauritius 36.2
152 Seychelles 36.7
167 United States 38.5
225 Japan 48.6
226 Monaco 55.4

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African Gourmet FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The African Gourmet blog about?

The African Gourmet explores African food, history, and culture through recipes, folktales, and proverbs written for curious readers worldwide.

Who writes The African Gourmet?

The blog is written and curated by Ivy, a lifelong historian and storyteller who highlights Africa’s culinary and cultural richness.

How can I find African recipes on this site?

Use the “African Recipes” category or explore posts like African Recipes for regional dishes and ingredients.

Can I share or reprint your articles?

You may share articles with attribution and a link back to The African Gourmet. Reprinting in print or commercial use requires permission.

Where can I learn more about African proverbs and folklore?

Explore our African Proverbs and African Folktales sections for timeless wisdom and stories.

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