Fact Sheet: Health of Young People

Key facts

• More that 1.8 million young people aged 15 to 24 die each year, mostly due to preventable causes.

• About 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 give birth every year.

• Young people, 15 to 24 years old, accounted for 40% of all new HIV infections among adults in 2008.

• At least 20% of adolescents will experience a mental health problem in a year, most commonly depression or anxiety.

• An estimated 150 million young people use tobacco.

• Approximately 565 young people aged 10 to 29 die every day through interpersonal violence.

• Road traffic injuries cause an estimated 1 000 young people to die every day.