A new United Nations report is painting a bleak picture of life for youth in Somalia, especially women, and says a "powerful new vision" is needed to transform the country.
The
2012 Somalia Human Development Report says the unemployment rate for Somalis age 30 and under is 67 percent - one of the highest rates in the world, according to the study. It also says more than 60 percent of youth in Somalia have intentions to leave the country in hopes of making a better living.
The report ranks Somalia second to Afghanistan as the worst country in the world for women. It says females face widespread gender-based violence and extreme inequality, particularly when it comes to health care, empowerment and employment.
The report's authors note that 70 percent of Somalia's population is under 30, and call for "positive youth empowerment" to be at the center of any future development strategies.
In other findings, the report says 73 percent of Somalis live on less than $2 a day.
Life expectancy in Somalia is 50 years, up from 47 in 2001.