\ Global Youth Development Index and Report 2016 Opportunity and Education, which were offset by a large fall in Civic Participation. Of the eight countries in the region, five improved their YDI scores, with the largest improvements being in Sri Lanka and India. The 18 per cent slide in Pakistan’s YDI score over the past five years was the most for any country in the region as well as globally. It has been brought about by a dramatic fall in the domains of Civic Participation (58 per cent) and Political Participation (69 per cent). The indicators that contributed the most to this decline are: voiced an opinion to an official, existence of a youth policy, volunteered time, and helped a stranger. Pakistan scores below the South Asian average in all domains except Health and Well-being. The YDI score for Maldives also deteriorated marginally in this five-year period. The YDI score for Sri Lanka and India improved by more than 10 per cent between 2010 and 2015. Sri Lanka had a significant drop in indicator score for NEET. India’s score was boosted by significant improvements in the number of youth with an account at a financial institution and reduction in the adolescent fertility rate, as well as a drop in youth mortality. 2.5.9  Sub-Saharan Africa In 2015, 265 million young people lived in SubSaharan Africa, accounting for 15 per cent of the global youth population. Youth make up 28 per cent of the region’s population. As of 2015, Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the world where the size of youth population has not peaked. According to UN population estimates, global youth population will rise to two billion by 2060. Most of this projected growth will take place in Sub-Saharan Africa.6 Figure 2.21 shows the regional YDI change in SubSaharan Africa between 2010 and 2015. During this period Sub-Saharan Africa had the largest improvement in youth development in the world, driven largely by significant improvements in the domains of Health and Well-being, Education and Political Participation. Sub-Saharan Africa had the largest improvement (of nearly 12 per cent) among all regions in Health and Well-being, made possible to some extent by a fall in youth mortality rates. Of the 46 countries measured, 38 enhanced their YDI scores, with five countries – Kenya, South Africa, Niger, Togo and Malawi – showing an improvement of more than 15 per cent. These five countries also top the list of countries that have made the greatest progress worldwide. Approximately half of the countries in the region improved their scores by more than 5 per cent. The scores in only two countries – Chad and Angola – deteriorated by over 5 per cent. Despite the noteworthy progress they are making in youth development, Sub-Saharan African countries continue to trail the rest of the world significantly, with scores that are below the global average in Figure 2.21  Regional YDI change in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2010–2015 8 0.8 38 Improvement 54 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 Civic Participation Education Employment & Opportunity Health & Well-being Political Participation YDI overall score 0.2 38 Improved 8 Deteriorated Source: Commonwealth Secretariat 0.1 0 2010 2011 Source: Commonwealth Secretariat 2012 2013 2014 2015