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The Continent | Africa (Overview 2025 Edition)

Africa is entering a decisive decade. With over 1.45 billion people and the fastest population growth rate in the world (around 2.4% annually), the continent will represent nearly one-fourth of the global population by 2050. The United Nations projects that half of the world’s population growth between now and 2050 will come from Africa.

Demographics and Urbanization
  • Median age: 18.8 years — the youngest in the world (UN Population Division, 2024).
  • Youth (under 25): over 60% of Africans are below 25 years old.
  • Urbanization: Africa’s urban population will double by 2040, growing from ~43% today to over 56%, adding more than 500 million urban residents (World Bank, 2024).
  • Working-age population (15–64): Expected to rise from 680 million today to 1.3 billion by 2050.
  • This demographic shift creates both a massive labor force and a consumer market expected to reach $2.5 trillion in household spending by 2030 (AfDB data).
  • GDP (continent-wide): ~$2.9 trillion (current prices, 2024).
  • Regional GDP growth (Sub-Saharan Africa):
    • 2023: 3.2 %
    • 2024: 3.5 %
    • 2025 (forecast): 3.8 %
    • 2026–27 (outlook): 4.3–4.4 % (World Bank Africa Pulse, 2025).
  • Inflation: Averaged 4.5 % in 2024, down from 7.1 % in 2023.
  • External debt: Public-debt-to-GDP ratio averages ~57 % across African economies, with significant variation.
  • FDI inflows (2024): ~$65 billion, led by Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya (UNCTAD World Investment Report, 2025).
  • Top growth drivers: Services (telecom, finance, trade), energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction.
  • Africa’s share of global trade: ~3% (WTO, 2024).
  • Intra-African trade: Still low, around 16% of total exports, but expected to rise sharply under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
  • AfCFTA potential: Creates a market of 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of over $3.4 trillion, aiming to lift 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty by 2035 (World Bank AfCFTA Impact Study, 2024).
  • Major export sectors: Oil, gas, gold, copper, coffee, cocoa, tea, and increasingly manufacturing (automotive, textiles, fertilizers).
  • Top import needs: Machinery, refined fuels, vehicles, food, and electronics.
  • Access to electricity: 50.6 % average across Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank Energy Progress Report, 2024).
  • Energy generation mix: ~17 % renewables (mainly hydro and solar), expected to reach 25 % by 2030.
  • Infrastructure gap: Estimated at $100 billion annually — covering roads, power, water, and digital connectivity (AfDB, 2025).
  • Digital connectivity: 40 % internet penetration; expected to exceed 65 % by 2030 (ITU, 2024).
  • Poverty: ~67% of the world’s extreme poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank Poverty & Prosperity Report, 2024).
  • Human Capital Index: Average 0.40, meaning a child born today will reach only 40% of their productivity potential without stronger education and health investment.
  • Education: School enrollment rates are improving, but quality gaps persist — especially in rural areas.
  • Healthcare: Health-care access and life expectancy improving (now 64.5 years, up from 50 in 2000).
  • Land area: 30.4 million km² (20% of global land surface).
    Forest cover: 21.6 % (FAO, 2024).
  • Agricultural potential: 60 % of the world’s uncultivated arable land is in Africa.
  • Climate vulnerability: Africa contributes < 4 % of global emissions but suffers some of the worst impacts — droughts, floods, and soil degradation.
  • Key renewable potential: Solar in North Africa and Sahel; hydro in Central/East Africa; wind in coastal and southern zones.
Angola map

Angola

  • Region: Southern Africa
  • GDP (2024): $80.4 billion
  • GDP per capita (2024): $2,122
  • Population: 37.9 million
  • Area: 1,246,700 km²
  • Government: Presidential republic
  • Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu languages
  • Climate: Tropical north, semi-arid south
  • Major exports: Crude oil, LNG, diamonds
  • Major imports: Machinery, vehicles, fuels, food
  • Economic overview: Oil-based economy diversifying into agriculture and industry; renewed access to capital markets.
  • BizGov presence: Agriculture

Botswana

  • Region: Southern Africa
  • GDP (2024): $19.4 billion
  • GDP per capita (2024): $7,695
  • Population: 2.5 million
  • Area: 581,730 km²
  • Government: Parliamentary republic
  • Languages: English (official), Setswana widely spoken
  • Climate: Semi-arid
  • Major exports: Diamonds, copper ore, beef
  • Major imports: Fuel, machinery, vehicles
  • Economic overview: Stable, transparent economy; diamond dependence persists but diversification accelerating.
  • BizGov presence: Civil Government · Digital & Technology
Botswana map
Egypt map

Egypt

  • Region: North Africa
  • GDP (2024): $389.1 billion
  • GDP per capita (2024): $3,338
  • Population: 116.5 million
  • Area: 1,001,450 km²
  • Government: Presidential republic
  • Language: Arabic
  • Climate: Desert, hot and dry
  • Major exports: Natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, gold
  • Major imports: Wheat, fuels, machinery
  • Economic overview: Diversified industrial base under IMF-guided reforms; energy, construction, and logistics lead growth.
  • BizGov presence: Construction · Machinery

Kenya

  • Region: East Africa
  • GDP (2024): $124.5 billion
  • GDP per capita (2024): $2,206
  • Population: ~57 million
  • Area: 580,367 km²
  • Government: Presidential republic
  • Languages: English & Kiswahili (official)
  • Climate: Tropical coast, temperate highlands, arid north
  • Major exports: Tea, cut flowers, coffee, fruits
  • Major imports: Petroleum, machinery, vehicles
  • Economic overview: Regional financial and technology hub; growth steady amid fiscal consolidation.
  • BizGov presence: Agriculture · Security · Civil Government · Infrastructure & Energy · Pharma & Healthcare
Kenya map
liberiamap

Liberia

  • Region: West Africa
  • GDP (2024): $4.75 billion
  • GDP per capita (2024): $846
  • Population: 5.6 million
  • Area: 111,370 km²
  • Government: Presidential republic
  • Language: English
  • Climate: Tropical and humid with a long rainy season
  • Major exports: Gold, iron ore, rubber, ships and vessels
  • Major imports: Refined fuels, rice, machinery
  • Economic overview: Agriculture and mining anchor recovery; growing investment in digital and civil-service modernization.
  • BizGov presence: Agriculture · Digital · Civil Government

Malawi

  • Region: Southeastern Africa
  • GDP (2024): $11.0 billion
  • GDP per capita (2024): $508
  • Population: 21.7 million
  • Area: 118,480 km²
  • Government: Presidential republic
  • Languages: English (official), Chichewa widely used
  • Climate: Subtropical; rainy November–April
  • Major exports: Tobacco, tea, legumes, soy meal, sugar
  • Major imports: Fuel, fertilizers, machinery
  • Economic overview: Agriculture-based, aid-dependent economy under IMF recovery plan; climate shocks and FX shortages constrain growth.
  • BizGov presence: Civil Government
Malawi map
Morocco map

Morocco

  • Region: Northwest Africa
  • GDP (2024): $148 billion
  • GDP per capita (2024): $3,993
  • Population: 38.1 million
  • Area: 446,550 km²
  • Government: Constitutional monarchy
  • Languages: Arabic & Amazigh (official); French widely used in business
  • Climate: Mediterranean north, continental interior, Saharan south
  • Major exports: Automobiles, phosphate fertilizers, electrical components, wire harnesses
  • Major imports: Energy products, wheat, machinery
  • Economic overview: Export-driven economy with strong EU ties; automotive and renewables drive medium-term growth.
  • BizGov presence: Civil Government

Sources: World Bank (World Development Indicators 2024), World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS 2023–24), Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC 2024)

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