Quiz of the Day
International Youth Day
Wednesday, 12 August 2026
The UN's International Youth Day celebrates the world's 1.2 billion young people — their movements, innovations, and power to shape history
1. In what year did the UN establish International Youth Day?
- 1985
- 1999
- 1992
- 2005
The UN General Assembly designated August 12 as International Youth Day in 1999, following a recommendation from the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth held in Lisbon in 1998. The day raises awareness of challenges facing young people and celebrates youth contributions to society. The UN defines 'youth' as people between 15 and 24 years old.
2. What percentage of the global population is classified as 'youth' (15–24 years)?
- 8%
- 16%
- 12%
- 20%
Young people (15–24) make up about 16% of the global population — roughly 1.2 billion people. Approximately 90% of the world's youth live in developing countries. Africa has the youngest population of any continent, with a median age of just 19 years, meaning the continent is on course to become the world's most populous by 2100.
3. Malala Yousafzai became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2014 at what age?
- 19
- 14
- 16
- 17
Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at age 17 for her advocacy for girls' education. She survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban in 2012, who shot her on her school bus in retaliation for her activism. Her recovery and continued campaign turned her into a global symbol of educational rights and youth activism.
4. The 1960s 'Baby Boomer' generation refers to people born roughly when?
- 1960–1979
- 1946–1964
- 1955–1975
- 1940–1955
Baby Boomers were born in the post-WWII population surge from 1946 to 1964. In the US, about 76 million babies were born during this period. This massive generation fundamentally shaped American culture — driving the counterculture movements of the 1960s, rock and roll, the sexual revolution, and Vietnam War protests before later reshaping politics as they aged.
5. What was the 'youth quake' or 'youthquake' of the 1960s characterized by?
- Geological activity along the Pacific Rim
- The establishment of youth sports leagues worldwide
- Cultural revolution driven by young people in music, fashion, and politics
- The first wave of teen driving accidents in America
'Youthquake' was coined by Vogue editor Diana Vreeland in 1965 to describe the seismic cultural shift led by young people in Britain and America — the Beatles, Mod fashion, protest movements, and new sexual attitudes. The word was named Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year 2017, revived to describe young voters' impact on elections like the 2017 UK general election.
6. Greta Thunberg began her school climate strike in front of the Swedish parliament in what year?
- 2019
- 2016
- 2018
- 2015
Greta Thunberg began her 'Skolstrejk för klimatet' (School Strike for Climate) in August 2018 at age 15, sitting outside Sweden's parliament every Friday. By 2019, her movement had inspired over 4 million students in 161 countries to participate in global climate strikes. She became the youngest Time Person of the Year in 2019 at age 16.
7. The Arab Spring uprisings of 2010–2012 were notably driven by which demographic group?
- Young people, especially via social media
- Older established opposition parties
- Western-backed pro-democracy movements
- Military factions seeking government change
The Arab Spring was significantly fueled by young Arabs — many educated but unemployed — who organized through Facebook and Twitter to coordinate protests across Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria. Egypt's revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak after 30 years was partly organized by a Facebook group called 'We Are All Khaled Said,' created by a young Google executive named Wael Ghonim.
8. What is 'Generation Z' generally defined as?
- People born 1965–1980
- People born 2013 onward
- People born 1981–1996
- People born 1997–2012
Generation Z (roughly 1997–2012) are the first true digital natives — they don't remember a pre-smartphone world. They're the most ethnically diverse generation in US history and are characterized by high levels of social awareness, entrepreneurialism, and pragmatism. Unlike Millennials, Gen Z grew up through economic recession and social media's mental health effects, making them notably more cautious about financial risk.
9. The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in China were primarily led by which group?
- Farmers protesting land reforms
- A military faction opposing the government
- University students and intellectuals
- Industrial workers on strike
The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests were led primarily by Beijing university students demanding democratic reforms and freedom of the press. The protests were crushed by the People's Liberation Army on June 3–4, with an unknown death toll estimated in the hundreds to thousands. The iconic 'Tank Man' photo — a lone figure blocking a column of tanks — became one of the most famous images of the 20th century.
10. What is the global youth unemployment rate approximately compared to adult unemployment?
- Three times as high
- About the same
- Five times as high
- Twice as high
Youth unemployment rates globally are typically 3 times higher than adult rates. Young people face a 'catch-22' — they can't get experience without a job but can't get a job without experience. In some Middle Eastern and North African countries, youth unemployment exceeds 30%, creating significant social instability and contributing to emigration pressures.
11. Which young activist was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for his work for freedom of expression?
- Maria Ressa
- Ridhima Pandey
- No young person won in 2021
- David Hogg
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize went to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov — both for their work protecting freedom of expression. However, Malala Yousafzai remains the most famous young Nobel laureate, winning in 2014. The Nobel Committee has awarded prizes to young activists relatively rarely — the youngest ever Peace laureate was Malala at 17, while the youngest ever Nobel laureate in any category was William Lawrence Bragg, who won Physics at 25 in 1915.
12. What is UNESCO's role regarding youth education globally?
- Providing direct funding to schools worldwide
- Setting global education standards and tracking literacy
- Certifying university degrees internationally
- Running schools in refugee camps only
UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) tracks global education metrics including literacy rates and school enrollment. Despite progress, as of the mid-2020s approximately 244 million children and adolescents worldwide are still out of school. Gender disparities remain significant — globally, girls still have less access to secondary and tertiary education than boys in many regions.
13. The March for Our Lives movement in 2018 was organized by students following what event?
- A series of school fires across the US
- A school bombing in Texas
- A student protest crackdown in Missouri
- A school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida
After 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018, student survivors organized the March for Our Lives protest on March 24, 2018. Approximately 1.2–2 million people participated worldwide, making it one of the largest youth-led marches in American history. The movement significantly influenced gun control debates in several state legislatures.
14. In what country did the 'Milk Tea Alliance' youth-led pro-democracy movement originate?
- Thailand
- Hong Kong
- Myanmar
- Taiwan
The Milk Tea Alliance started as an internet solidarity movement in 2020 when Thai youth protesters expressed support for Hong Kong democracy activists. Named after milk-tea-drinking cultures across Asia, it grew into a cross-border solidarity network connecting young pro-democracy activists in Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Myanmar, and other countries. It challenged authoritarian governments across the region.
15. What is the 'Digital Divide' and how does it affect youth?
- The division between digital art and traditional art among young people
- Generational differences in social media preferences
- Time spent online vs. offline by young people
- The gap between those with and without internet access and digital skills
Approximately 2.7 billion people — disproportionately young people in developing nations — still lack reliable internet access as of the 2020s. In an era where education, job opportunities, and civic participation increasingly require connectivity, the digital divide translates directly into economic and social inequality. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically exposed this gap when schools went online and millions of students couldn't participate.