Changing Age Structures in East Africa and their Future Implications

The growing Interest in age structures (the way a population is distributed across different age groups at any given point in time) and associated changes stem from the recognition that people's social and economic behavior and needs vary at different stages of the lifecycle. Age structures therefore have far-reaching consequences for sectors such as health, education, labor markets, and social protection (Opiyo & Agwanda, unpublished). They also can help illustrate a country‘s risks and opportunities in issues of democracy, development and security (Population Action International [PAI], 2007).