The huge spread of Aids among young people is a global catastrophe that demands urgent action, the United Nations warned today.
An estimated 6,000 youngsters aged between 15 and 24 become infected with the disease every day - one every 14 seconds - and the majority are young women, the UN report showed.
The age group now accounts for half of all new infections of Aids, and a leading UN official said it should serve as a "wake-up call" to the world and its leaders.
The shocking statistics come in the annual State of the World Population Report, which was launched in London today by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
The study said that half of the world's population was now under 25 and many faced a very real risk of deadly diseases, unwanted pregnancy and poverty.
Ms Thoraya Obaid, executive director of the UNFPA, said: "This report is a wake-up call. It is a wake-up call to leaders to listen to young people and acknowledge their needs.
"It is a wake-up call for governments to increase funding and expand information and services to young people.
"It is a wake-up call to support them so that they can lead healthy, productive and dignified lives.
"It is a wake-up call to all of us to meet those needs."
The report, Making 1 Billion Count, also stressed however that the growing young population of the world could be a "unique opportunity " to develop a future, stronger generation.
But if action was not taken, Ms Obaid warned: "If we do not provide the investment this will be a global catastrophe."
The report said there were now 1.2 billion adolescents in the world - the largest generation of the age group in history.
But around 87 per cent of them live in developing countries and may face serious risks to their health and well-being.
The UNFPA said Aids had now "become a disease of young people" fuelled by poverty, inequality and a lack of information and services.
PA