How is adolescence defined?
The World health Organization (WHO) defines adolescence as the period between 10 and 19 years of age. The lines between childhood, adolescence, and adulthood may differ by culture and region, however. For women, the definitions rest solely upon physiological maturation and age; for others, adolescence is defined by a combination of maturation, social stage, or economic independence. In some cultures, for example, by getting married, leaving school, or having a baby, a young person moves into adulthood, even though he or she may still be between 10 and 19 years of age. No matter which definition of adolescence is used, the number of individuals in their teens is larger than ever before. Today, adolescents comprise almost one-fifth of the world’s population; there are over one billion young people ages 10 to 19. In the developing world, more than one-third of the population is under the age of 15. In sub-Saharan Africa and some other regions, about half of the population is under 15. The
