Fast Facts & Quick Stats About Africa

Democracy

• There are significantly more elections held in the 21st century compared with the 1960s or 1970s - from a low of just three countries holding parliamentary elections in 1973 to 40 holding parliamentary elections in 2005 (according to a report by Morgan Stanley).
• In 1900, New Zealand was the only country with a government elected by all its adult citizens. By the end of the century, despite severe reversals, including fascism and communism, and succeeding waves of military coups against elected governments, there were ostensibly 120 electoral democracies in place in the world.
• There are far more countries in Africa considered completely free today (11) and partially free (34) than there were when its measurements begin in 1972 (3 and 10 respectively) or even in 1990 (4 and 18 respectively). (Freedom House)
• In 2007, Freedom House rated the following countries to be free: Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde, Ghana, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal and South Africa. This are countries where free and fair multiparty elections are being held, and with political rights and civil liberties respected.
• The longest standing democracy in Africa is Botswana - a bastion of political stability and good governance in Africa.
• From a high of 24 coups in the 1960s, there were 14 in the 1990s and just five in 2000-08.
• According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, four African democracies rank in the top 40 democracies of the world; Mauritius (25), South Africa (29), Botswana (36) and Cape Verde (39).

Economy

• In the past, African economies suffered from poor commodity prices in undiversified economies, as well as increasing foreign debt and unstable governments. Strong commodity prices, debt relief and stable governments mean that Africa is performing more strongly than it has in years.
• In 2006, Sub-Saharan Africa registered its third straight year of good GDP growth - about 6%
• More than 35% of Africans live in sustained-growth economies that have grown at more than 4% a year for ten years. (World Bank's Africa Development Indicators (ADI) 2007)
• In 1975-2005 the GDP per capita growth (PPP) was 0.70%; in 1995-2005 it was 1.88%. (ADI 2007)
• South Africa's and Nigeria's GDP comprise 54% of total SSA's GDP. (ADI 2007)

Doing business

• It takes 14 days to start a business in the Central African Republic, and 233 days in Guinea Bissau. (ADI 2007)
• In the 2006/7 Doing Business Indicators, Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana were ranked among the top third best countries to do business. (ADI 2007)

Investment

• Foreign private capital inflows into Africa hit $38 billion in 2006 - more than foreign aid.
• International banks from overseas generate much higher returns in Africa than in almost any other of their markets with returns on equity in excess of 50% being achieved.
• Mobile banking technology in Africa is the most advanced and innovative in the world. (UK Department for International Development)
• The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), purchased a 20% stake in Standard Bank of South Africa. At the time, the transaction was the largest international investment completed by a Chinese company.
• In their report, 'Africa: Unlocking Investment Potential', Renaissance Capital wrote:
• "Perhaps the only opportunity of comparable magnitude [to Africa] in the last 20 years was that which emerged with the break-up of the Soviet Union"

Black gold

• Africa holds about 10% of the world's proven oil reserves
• The continent is likely to attract $50 billion in investment in the oil sector alone by the end of the decade.
• Libya is Africa's biggest oil producer, with an estimated 41.5 proven barrels of oil and vast unexplored areas.
• Angola, the fastest-growing African oil producer, has seen growth averaging 17% annually over the past few years. Crude oil exports are expected to jump 44% to $56bn in 2008.
• The oil exporting countries of Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Chad, Sudan, Nigeria, Congo Republic and Gabon enjoyed an average GDP growth of 7,4% from 1996-2005.
• Oil reserves in West Africa alone have been estimated at 110 billion barrels, which, if proven, would be on a par with Iraq and more than Kuwait.
• Libya's 41.5 billion barrels of oil reserves and Nigeria's 36 billion barrels are both twice the size of China's proven reserves and just under twice the size of US reserves.

Diaspora

• It is estimated that remittances sent home through formal channels to developing countries by migrant workers exceeded US$ 301bn in 2006, outgrowing Foreign Direct Investment and Official Development Aid. (African Banker Magazine/IFAD)In the UK, black Africans are one of the fastest growing of ethnic minority groups, having more than doubled in size between 1991 and 2001.
• A recent census report reveals that black Africans are now the most highly educated members of British society.
• According to the United States 2000 Census, African-born blacks are considerably better educated than other black immigrants.
• African immigrants to the United States are more highly educated than white and Asian Americans and are more likely than any other immigrant group to have a college education.
• Almost 50% of all African immigrants in the United States hold a college diploma.

ICT

• Between 2000 and 2005, the number of mobile phones subscribers in Africa grew six fold from 30 million to 137.2 million subscribers, outnumbering fixed lines by a ratio of nearly five to one.
• In the mid 1990s, there were more phones in New York City than the whole of Africa. But if the growth curve in mobile devices in Africa continues, it is likely to surpass the US in number of mobile consumers.

Quality of life

• In the last decade Rwanda and Uganda have made the greatest gains in live expectancy: 12 and 7 years respectively. (ADI 2007)
• In 2004 the poverty headcount ratio at $1 a day was 41% of population from 47% in 1990. (ADI 2007)
• Growth of living standards in the last five years is the highest in Africa's history.