Africa is the second largest continent in the world, made up of 54 countries and inhabiting over one billion people. Despite having 12% of the world’s oil reserves and the largest reserves of precious metals, including 40% of the gold reserves, 60% of the cobalt reserves, and 90% of the platinum reserves, Sub-Saharan Africa alone has the highest incidence rate of absolute poverty in the world at 47%.
Zimbabwe is a country located in Southern Africa that has a population of 13 million and contains the most fertile farmlands on the continent. It is home to Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and was once the breadbasket of Africa, exporting wheat, tobacco and corn to the rest of the continent and beyond. Now, after years of political oppression, living in poverty has become a way of life for many Zimbabweans.
Zambia is a country located in southern Africa that has a population of 14 million. It’s an increasingly popular tourist destination for those seeking to visit game parks along the lower Zambezi and Luangwa Rivers, but the economy remains unstable due to the country’s heavy reliance on the copper mining industry.
South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa that has a population of over 51 million people. It is a prime tourist destination for people wanting to go on safari in Kruger National Park or enjoy the vineyards on the Western Cape. Though South Africa is rich in natural resources making it Africa’s largest economy, many South Africans continue to live in extreme poverty.
Botswana is a country located in southern Africa and has a population of 2.1 million. Increasing conservation efforts have resulted in more tourists visiting the Okavango Delta and Great Kalahari Desert in recent years; however diamond mining dominates economic activity in Botswana. While Botswana has made remarkable progress in social and human development and has created one of the most stable economies in Africa, poverty is still a major problem.
Tanzania is a country located in east Africa that has a population of 48 million people. It is a popular tourist destination for those seeking to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, safari in the Serengeti or relax on the island of Zanzibar. Despite being one of Africa’s premier tourist destinations, Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world.
Uganda is a country located in east Africa that has a population of 35 million. 82% of the workforce is in agriculture and 85% of the population is rural. Despite Uganda’s substantial natural resources, including gold, copper and fertile soils and it’s popularity with tourists for gorilla trekking safaris, many Ugandans continue to live in poverty.
Rwanda is a country located in central Africa that has a population of 12 million. Rwanda was once known for its brutal civil war and genocide that resulted in the death of over a million of its citizens, but in recent years it has become a tourist destination for those seeking to view mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The most densely populated country in Africa, Rwanda is a small, poor, rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in subsistence farming.
Ghana is a country located in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea with a population of 25 million. It is considered to be one of the friendliest and most culturally rich countries in all of Africa. Although Ghana’s economy is strengthened by a wealth of natural resources, including gold, cocoa and oil, it is still very much a developing country.
