A late afternoon summer thunderstorm over Johannesburg, typical of the highveld climate, seen from the far north of the city. Joburg’s original city centre can be seen in the middle, on the far horizon, while the newer Sandton CBD is in the nearer distance, towards the left. (Ryanj93 / CC BY SA 4.0)

Click graphic to enlarge.

South Africa’s long coastline – some 2,800 kilometres – influences much of the climate. On the west coast is the cold Atlantic Ocean, and the warmer Indian Ocean on the south and east.

Starting at the hot and arid desert border with Namibia in the northwest, South Africa’s coastline runs south  down the cold Skeleton Coast, around the Cape Peninsula to Cape Agulhas. This is the southernmost tip of Africa, said to be where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. In fact, it’s here, slightly offshore, that two coastal currents meet, currents that determine the different coastal climates. The cold Benguela current sweeps the west coast, and the warm Agulhas current the east.

From Cape Agulhas the coastline moves east and slowly northwards, and the climate becomes warmer and wetter. The Western Cape’s pretty green Garden Route gives way to the forested Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape, and then humid subtropical KwaZulu-Natal coast, famous for its beaches. In the northeast, the coast reaches the border of Mozambique.

Running along most of the coast is a narrow low-lying strip of land, which soon gives way to a higher plateau – the Great Escarpment. The high altitude of South Africa’s interior means the country is generally much cooler than southern hemisphere countries at the same latitude, such as Australia.

 Sun and rain

Late afternoon sunshine falls on quiver trees in the dry scrubland of the Northern Cape. (South African Tourism / CC BY 2.0)

Data source: South African Weather Service

South Africa is famous for its sunshine – an average of 2,500 hours of sun every year. It’s a dry country, classified as semi-arid. The average annual rainfall for the whole of South Africa is about 464 mm. The world average is about 860mm.

Most of South Africa gets rain only in the summer. The region around the Cape Peninsula, including Cape Town, has a Mediterranean climate: cold and miserable rain in winter, balanced by glorious clear-sky summers. But Cape Town is most famous for its relentless year-round wind, which blows from either southeast or the northwest.

KwaZulu-Natal’s coast and areas of the Mpumalanga lowlands get warm rain all year.

The great inland Karoo plateau, where rocky hills rise from scrubland, is dry, and gets drier in the northwest towards the Kalahari desert. It’s a region of extremes: very hot in summer and icy in winter.

The eastern Karoo gives way to the flat landscape of the Free State, which gets a little more rain.

The highveld region north of the Vaal River is wetter, with milder weather and less extreme subtropical heat. Johannesburg lies at 1,740 metres above sea level, and has an annual rainfall of 760 millimetres. Winters on the highveld are cold, but snow is rare.

Further north and east the highveld drops down into the lowveld. Temperatures rise, and the land turns to typical bushveld, the habitat of South Africa’s wildlife.

South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, so midwinter is in the middle of the year and high summer in December and January.

Spring – September, October, November

In the early spring, flowers bloom across the arid landscape of the Namaqualand region of the Northern Cape. (South African Tourism / CC BY 2.0)

Click graphic to enlarge.

In spring South Africa warms up from the top down. It quickly gets very hot in the far north province of Limpopo, and the desert regions of the Northern Cape and North West.

The southwest stays cold and wet well into spring, typical of its Mediterranean climate. The coast in the south and west gradually gets more rain, and humidity rises.

In the rest of the country the weather gets pleasantly warm and sunny, before the summer rains begin.

The rains, generally mid-afternoon thundershowers, start in about mid-October.

Summer – December, January, February

Rain clouds build up over farmland in the Magaliesberg region of North West province towards the end of a warm summer’s day. (Storm Signal / CC BY SA 2.0)

Click graphic to enlarge.

Over much of South Africa, summer means warm, sunny weather – often with afternoon thunderstorms that clear quickly, leaving a warm and earthy smell in the air.

The arid regions of the central Karoo and Northern Cape get very hot, with some relief in more rain. Northern Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal are also often exhaustingly hot.

The Northern Cape – a province of weather extremes – gets the hottest weather, and the temperature records. In 1948 the mercury hit 51.7°C (125°F) in the Kalahari near the town of Upington.

The high altitude of the interior plateau keeps average summer temperatures below 30°C, so summer is warm without being oppressive.

Summer is the season of rain in most of South Africa, changing much of the country from khaki to green. It’s mostly warm rain, delivered in short and drenching storms. The Cape Peninsula in the southwest is the exception, staying clear-skied and sunny all through summer.

Autumn – March, April, May

The vineyards of the Constantia wine estate near Cape Town show their autumn colours. (Tim Snell / CC BY ND 2.0)

Click graphic to enlarge.

In autumn South Africa’s weather comes into its own. The days are still long and warm, getting chillier – but still brisk and sunny – in the early morning and evening.

The rainy season comes to an end in autumn, leaving the skies clear and the sun shining. By May most of South Africa has settled into its dry season, which will last through winter and well into spring.

Autumn comes at the end of the dry season on the Cape Peninsula, thanks to the region’s Mediterranean climate.

Here the autumn weather is beautiful, with hot sunny days and warm, balmy nights. It’s only in May, a month from winter, that the rains begin again.

Winter – June, July, August

Winter snow on the mountains surrounding the Hex River Valley in the Western Cape. Mountain snowfall generally means freezing conditions across the rest of the country. (Mary Alexander / CC BY SA 4.0)

Click graphic to enlarge.

South Africa’s winter is mostly pleasant sunny weather with cloudless blue skies, punctuated now and then by a few days of cold fronts.

In the high interior plateau winter days are dry and sunny, with clear skies and crisp air. The nights are chilly. Temperatures only drop to freezing when a cold front sweeps in.

Cold fronts mean heavy snow on the mountains of the Western Cape and Northern Cape, and on the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg. When it snows on the mountains, icy weather quickly spreads to the rest of the country.

The coldest place in South Africa is the Northern Cape town of Sutherland, in the western Roggeveld Mountains. Here midwinter temperatures can drop to -15°C (5°F).

The Western Cape gets all of its rain in winter. The winter weather in Cape Town is always cold, wet and unpleasantly windy.

By contrast, the hot, humid KwaZulu-Natal coast, and the lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, offer lovely winter weather with still, sunny and warm days.

Researched and written by Mary Alexander.
Updated July 2025.
Comments? Email mary1alexander@gmail.com

The post South Africa’s weather and climate appeared first on South Africa Gateway.

Rice fields and hillscapes encircle a village near Toamasina in the Atsinanana region of eastern Madagascar. (Mariusz Kluzniak, CC BY-NC-ND)

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Africa

The iconic Blue Marble image of Earth was taken with a hand-held Hasselblad camera by a Nasa astronaut on the Apollo 17 mission to the moon in December 1972. In this, the most famous and often reproduced photo of our planet, Africa dominates. Africa is our second-largest continent, taking up over 20% – one-fifth – of the world’s land area.
Photo credit Nasa Earth Observatory

Surface area: 29,648,481 square kilometres
Population: 1.5 billion
Population density: 51.3 people per square kilometre
Gross domestic product (GDP): US$2.9-trillion
GDP per person: US$2,014
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 1.3 billion tonnes | 3.9% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.9 tonnes | 0.2 x world average

Algeria

Dusk falls over Constantine, an ancient city on the Mediterranean coast of northern Algeria.
Photo credit Mariusz Kluzniak

ALGERIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Northern Africa
Population: 46.8 million | 3.1% of Africa’s population
Population density: 19.7 people per square kilometre | 0.4 x African average
Surface area: 2,381,741 square kilometres | 8% of Africa
Capital city: Algiers

ALGERIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Upper middle income
Currency: Algerian dinar (DZD)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $191.9 billion | 6.7% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $4,273.90 | 2.1 x African average
Agriculture: 13.3% of economy
Industry: 38% of economy
Services and other: 48.7% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 12.1%
Share of women in the labour force: 16.9%
Share of men in the labour force: 67.1%

ALGERIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Italy 26.5% | France 12.7% | Spain 11.7%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 22.4% | France 11.1% | Italy 7.2%
Exports value: $57.4 billion | 9.9% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $44.6 billion | 6.5% of Africa’s imports

ALGERIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 28.8% (2012) | Africa rank: 54th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: High | Score 0.763 | Africa rank: 3rd out of 54 | Global rank: 96th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.601 | Africa rank: 3rd out of 51 | Global rank: 89th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.443 | Africa rank: 9th out of 49 | Global rank: 114th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 13% | Africa rank: 35th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 7% | Public opinion: 19%
Women in national parliament hold 7.9% of seats
Urbanisation: 73.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Internet access: 71.2% of inhabitants use the internet

ALGERIA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 0.8% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 146 million tonnes | 11.2% of African total | 0.4% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 3.3 tonnes | 3.7 x African average | 0.8 x world average

ALGERIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Arabic and Berber
Other languages: English and French
Colonised by: France 1830-1962
Independence: 1962 – from France
World Heritage Site: The Tassili n’Ajjer sandstone plateau in the Sahara is one of the richest prehistoric rock art sites in the world, with more than 15,000 rock paintings and engravings dated from 12,000 years ago to the first centuries of the common era.

Angola

Angola’s Serra da Leba high mountain pass lies at 1,845 metres (6,053 feet) above sea level in the province of Huíla, in the southeast of the country.
Photo credit JB Dodane

ANGOLA: OVERVIEW
Region: Middle Africa
Population: 37.9 million | 2.5% of Africa’s population
Population density: 30.4 people per square kilometre | 0.6 x African average
Surface area: 1,246,700 square kilometres | 4.2% of Africa
Capital city: Luanda

ANGOLA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: kwanza (AOA)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $113.3 billion | 3.9% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $3,183.70 | 1.6 x African average
Agriculture: 13.7% of economy
Industry: 45.1% of economy
Services and other: 41.1% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 14.1%
Share of women in the labour force: 72.7%
Share of men in the labour force: 77.6%

ANGOLA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 42.7% | India 10% | France 7.1%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 16% | Portugal 10.7% | South Korea 9.2%
Exports value: $40.3 billion | 6.9% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $22.1 billion | 3.2% of Africa’s imports

ANGOLA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 63.6% (2019) | Africa rank: 3rd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.616 | Africa rank: 19th out of 54 | Global rank: 148th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.36 | Africa rank: 27th out of 51 | Global rank: 142nd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.515 | Africa rank: 23rd out of 49 | Global rank: 139th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 42% | Africa rank: 10th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 50% | Public opinion: 35%
Urbanisation: 66.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.1% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 38.6% of seats
Internet access: 39.3% of inhabitants use the internet

ANGOLA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 53% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 14.5 million tonnes | 1.1% of African total | 0.04% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.4 tonnes | 0.4 x African average | 0.1 x world average

ANGOLA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: Portuguese
Other languages: Kikongo, Chokwe, Umbundu, Kimbundu, Nganguela and Kwanyama
Colonised by: Portugal 1575-1975
Independence: 1975 – from Portugal
World Heritage site: M’banza Kongo, capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, which flourished as one of the largest states in southern Africa from the 14th to the 19th century.

Benin

In Possotomè, an arrondissement in the Mono department of Benin, a man takes part in the massive Vodun dance competition held every year by people from villages scattered along the shores of Lake Aheme.
Photo credit Adam Cohn

BENIN: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 14.5 million | 1% of Africa’s population
Population density: 128.3 people per square kilometre | 2.5 x African average
Surface area: 114,763 square kilometres | 0.4% of Africa
Capital city: Porto-Novo

BENIN: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: CFA franc, Central Bank of West African States (XOF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $17.4 billion | 0.6% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,302.90 | 0.6 x African average
Agriculture: 29.6% of economy
Industry: 18.7% of economy
Services and other: 51.6% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 1.4%
Share of women in the labour force: 56.8%
Share of men in the labour force: 68.8%

BENIN: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Bangladesh 37.2% | India 15.4% | Pakistan 7.2%
Major import partners (share of imports): India 17.1% | China 12.8% | France 8.6%
Exports value: $1.1 billion | 0.2% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $3.9 billion | 0.6% of Africa’s imports

BENIN: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 49.8% (2022) | Africa rank: 39th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.515 | Africa rank: 36th out of 54 | Global rank: 173rd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.316 | Africa rank: 40th out of 51 | Global rank: 158th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.573 | Africa rank: 34th out of 49 | Global rank: 153rd out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 29% | Africa rank: 17th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 42% | Public opinion: 16%
Urbanisation: 47.9% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.2% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 26.6% of seats
Internet access: 33.8% of inhabitants use the internet

BENIN: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 27.4% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 5.4 million tonnes | 0.4% of African total | 0.02% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.4 tonnes | 0.4 x African average | 0.1 x world average

BENIN: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: French
Other languages: Fon and Yoruba
Colonised by: Portugal 1472-1892 | France 1892-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: The Royal Palaces of Abomey, the seat of a dynasty of 12 kings who ruled the powerful Kingdom of Abomey from 1625 to 1900.

Botswana

Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is one of the three largest inland deltas in the world, all found in Africa. It was once part of the ancient Lake Makgadikgadi, an inland sea that emptied out and dried up between 20,000 and 10,000 years ago.
Photo credit Pavel Špindler

BOTSWANA: OVERVIEW
Region: Southern Africa
Population: 2.5 million | 0.2% of Africa’s population
Population density: 4.4 people per square kilometre | 0.09 x African average
Surface area: 582,000 square kilometres | 2% of Africa
Capital city: Gaborone

BOTSWANA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Upper middle income
Currency: pula (BWP)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $20.4 billion | 0.7% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $7,737.70 | 3.8 x African average
Agriculture: 1.9% of economy
Industry: 39.4% of economy
Services and other: 58.8% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 23.5%
Share of women in the labour force: 59.8%
Share of men in the labour force: 69.3%

BOTSWANA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): United Arab Emirates 29.8% | Belgium 17.9% | India 12.3%
Major import partners (share of imports): South Africa 65% | Namibia 7.7% | Canada 4.9%
Exports value: $5.5 billion | 0.9% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $6.4 billion | 0.9% of Africa’s imports

BOTSWANA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 56.9% (2016) | Africa rank: 16th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: High | Score 0.731 | Africa rank: 8th out of 54 | Global rank: 111th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.509 | Africa rank: 8th out of 51 | Global rank: 110th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.49 | Africa rank: 14th out of 49 | Global rank: 127th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 53% | Africa rank: 4th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 54% | Public opinion: 51%
Urbanisation: 70.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 8.1% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 11.1% of seats
Internet access: 77.3% of inhabitants use the internet

BOTSWANA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 26.7% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 6.2 million tonnes | 0.5% of African total | 0.02% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 2.4 tonnes | 2.7 x African average | 0.6 x world average

BOTSWANA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: English
Other languages: Setswana
Colonised by: Britain 1885-1966
Independence: 1966 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: Known as the ”Louvre of the Desert”, Tsodilo in the Kalahari Desert contains over 4,500 well-preserved rock paintings produced over the past 100,000 years.

Burkina Faso

The Grand Mosque in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, in the southeast of Burkina Faso. Possibly the largest example of Sudano-Sahelian architecture in the country, the mosque was built in the 1880s as a part of political agreement between the king of Sya and Islamic religious leader Almamy Sidiki Sanou.
Photo credit QIV

BURKINA FASO: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 23.5 million | 1.6% of Africa’s population
Population density: 86.1 people per square kilometre | 1.7 x African average
Surface area: 274,200 square kilometres | 0.9% of Africa
Capital city: Ouagadougou

BURKINA FASO: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: CFA franc, Central Bank of West African States (XOF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $19.2 billion | 0.7% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $845.80 | 0.4 x African average
Agriculture: 22.9% of economy
Industry: 33.7% of economy
Services and other: 43.4% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 4.9%
Share of women in the labour force: 57.3%
Share of men in the labour force: 72.6%

BURKINA FASO: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Switzerland 67.6% | United Arab Emirates 8.5% | Mali 6%
Major import partners (share of imports): Côte d’Ivoire 13.9% | China 13.7% | Russia 8.9%
Exports value: $4.5 billion | 0.8% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $5.9 billion | 0.9% of Africa’s imports

BURKINA FASO: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 52.5% (2022) | Africa rank: 33rd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.459 | Africa rank: 47th out of 54 | Global rank: 186th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.273 | Africa rank: 46th out of 51 | Global rank: 164th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.555 | Africa rank: 29th out of 49 | Global rank: 146th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 10% | Africa rank: 40th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 10% | Public opinion: 10%
Urbanisation: 30% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 5.2% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 16.9% of seats
Internet access: 19.9% of inhabitants use the internet

BURKINA FASO: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 22.5% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 5.2 million tonnes | 0.4% of African total | 0.02% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.2 tonnes | 0.2 x African average | 0.05 x world average

BURKINA FASO: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: French
Other languages: Mòoré, Fulani, Dioula
Colonised by: France 1896-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: The 1,000-year-old Ruins of Loropéni, an imposing stone fortress that was the centre of the trans-Saharan gold trade from the 14th to 17th century.

Burundi

The shores of Lake Tanganyika with Burundi’s capital of Bujumbura in the distance.
Photo credit Michael Foley

BURUNDI: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 14 million | 0.9% of Africa’s population
Population density: 541.3 people per square kilometre | 10.6 x African average
Surface area: 27,834 square kilometres | 0.09% of Africa
Capital city: Gitega

BURUNDI: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: Burundi franc (BIF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $4 billion | 0.14% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $312.90 | 0.2 x African average
Agriculture: 36.5% of economy
Industry: 19% of economy
Services and other: 44.7% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 0.8%
Share of women in the labour force: 78.8%
Share of men in the labour force: 78.8%

BURUNDI: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): United Arab Emirates 28% | Democratic Republic of the Congo 18.6% | Switzerland 9.5%
Major import partners (share of imports): Saudi Arabia 14.7% | China 14.1% | United Arab Emirates 13.9%
Exports value: $183 million | 0.03% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $1.2 billion | 0.2% of Africa’s imports

BURUNDI: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 52.6% (2021) | Africa rank: 32nd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.439 | Africa rank: 48th out of 54 | Global rank: 187th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.286 | Africa rank: 43rd out of 51 | Global rank: 161st out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.501 | Africa rank: 18th out of 49 | Global rank: 132nd out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 10% | Africa rank: 40th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 10% | Public opinion: 10%
Urbanisation: 13.4% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 5.1% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 38.2% of seats
Internet access: 11.3% of inhabitants use the internet

BURUNDI: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 10.9% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 0.8 million tonnes | 0.06% of African total | 0.002% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.1 tonnes | 0.1 x African average | 0.02 x world average

BURUNDI: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: French and Kurundi
Colonised by: Germany 1899-1916 | Belgium 1916-1962
Independence: 1962 – from Belgium
Heritage Site:: The royal domain of Gishora was founded by the Mwami Ntare Rugamba in the first half of the 19th century after its victory over the rebel leader Ntibirangwa.

Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)

The São Miguel region in northeastern part of Santiago, the largest island in the Cabo Verde archipelago.
Photo credit Rey Perezoso

CABO VERDE: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 525,000 | 0.3% of Africa’s population
Population density: 130.2 people per square kilometre | 2.5 x African average
Surface area: 4,033 square kilometres | 0.01% of Africa
Capital city: Praia

CABO VERDE: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Upper middle income
Currency: Cape Verde escudo (CVE)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $2.3 billion | 0.08% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $3,902.60 | 1.9 x African average
Agriculture: 4.3% of economy
Industry: 19.4% of economy
Services and other: 76.3% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 11.9%
Share of women in the labour force: 51.1%
Share of men in the labour force: 64.6%

CABO VERDE: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Spain 57.6%, Italy 20.1%, Portugal 18.8%
Major import partners (share of imports): Portugal 45.2%, Spain 8.6%, Togo 6.7%
Exports value: $49 million | 0.008% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $928 million | 0.1% of Africa’s imports

CABO VERDE: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 56.3% (2015) | Africa rank: 19th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.668 | Africa rank: 13rd out of 54 | Global rank: 135th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.478 | Africa rank: 9th out of 51 | Global rank: 116th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.298 | Africa rank: 3rd out of 49 | Global rank: 77th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 68% | Africa rank: 1st out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 55% | Public opinion: 80%
Women in national parliament hold 38.9% of seats
Urbanisation: 66.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 6.5% of GDP
Internet access: 72.1% of inhabitants use the internet

CABO VERDE: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 11.4% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 600,000 tonnes | 0.05% of African total | 0.002% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 1 tonne | 1.1 x African average | 0.2 x world average

CABO VERDE: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Portuguese
Other languages: Cape Verdean Creole
Colonised by: Portugal 1462-1975
Independence: 1975 – from Portugal
World Heritage Site: Cidade Velha, built in the 1460s as the first European town in the tropics. The founding of the town marked a decisive step in Europe’s colonisation of Africa.

Cameroon

The Mandara Mountains near Rhumsiki in the Far North Province of Cameroon. Sixteen 15th-century archaeological sites have been identified in Mandara region. Known as Diy-gid-biy (or “place of chiefly residence”), these granite strongholds have been described as the most remarkable indigenous stone-built structures in sub-Saharan Africa outside the Horn and the southern African Zimbabwe complex.
Photo credit Krishna Naudin

CAMEROON: OVERVIEW
Region: Middle Africa
Population: 29.1 million | 1.9% of Africa’s population
Population density: 62.5 people per square kilometre | 1.2 x African average
Surface area: 475,650 square kilometres | 1.6% of Africa
Capital city: Yaoundé

CAMEROON: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: CFA franc, Bank Of Central African States (XAF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $44.3 billion | 1.5% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,588.50 | 0.8 x African average
Agriculture: 18.3% of economy
Industry: 27.4% of economy
Services and other: 54.3% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 3.7%
Share of women in the labour force: 67.2%
Share of men in the labour force: 76.6%

CAMEROON: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 25.9% | Netherlands 12.4% | India 9.7%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 17% | France 9% | India 7.2%
Exports value: $4.5 billion | 0.8% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $8.9 billion | 1.3% of Africa’s imports

CAMEROON: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 56.2% (2022) | Africa rank: 20th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.588 | Africa rank: 23rd out of 54 | Global rank: 155th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.361 | Africa rank: 25th out of 51 | Global rank: 140th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.558 | Africa rank: 30th out of 49 | Global rank: 149th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 8% | Africa rank: 46th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 4% | Public opinion: 11%
Urbanisation: 57% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.8% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 33.9% of seats
Internet access: 43.9% of inhabitants use the internet

CAMEROON: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 42.9% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 6.5 million tonnes | 0.5% of African total | 0.02% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.2 tonnes | 0.2 x African average | 0.05 x world average

CAMEROON: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: French and English
Other languages: 55 Afro-Asiatic languages, two Nilo-Saharan languages, 173 Niger-Congo languages, Camfranglais
Colonised by: Germany 1884-1916 | Britain 1916-1961 | France 1919-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France | 1961 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: The Dja Faunal Reserve is one of Africa’s largest and best-protected rain forests, almost completely surrounded by the Dja River and sheltering 107 mammal species, five of them threatened.

Central African Republic

The centre of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is on the other side of the Oubangui river, at left.
Photo credit Alllexxxis

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: OVERVIEW
Region: Middle Africa
Population: 5.3 million | 0.4% of Africa’s population
Population density: 8.6 people per square kilometre | 0.2 x African average
Surface area: 622,984 square kilometres | 2.1% of Africa
Capital city: Bangui

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: CFA franc, Bank Of Central African States (XAF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $2.4 billion | 0.08% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $429.40 | 0.2 x African average
Agriculture: 33.4% of economy
Industry: 21.8% of economy
Services and other: 44.9% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 6.2%
Share of women in the labour force: 63.4%
Share of men in the labour force: 77.9%

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): United Arab Emirates 40.9% | Pakistan 19.8% | Italy 12.6%
Major import partners (share of imports): Cameroon 40.2% | United States 9.7% | France 8.1%
Exports value: $127 million | 0.02% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $543 million | 0.08% of Africa’s imports

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 57.1% (2021) | Africa rank: 15th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.414 | Africa rank: 52nd out of 54 | Global rank: 191st out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.253 | Africa rank: 48th out of 51 | Global rank: 166th out of 169
LGBT equality index: 29% | Africa rank: 17th out of 54
Urbanisation: 41.8% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 1.9% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 11.4% of seats
Internet access: 7.5% of inhabitants use the internet

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 35.8% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 0.2 million tonnes | 0.02% of African total | 0.0006% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.04 tonnes | 0.04 x African average | 0.01 x world average

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: French and Sango
Colonised by: France 1894-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park, whose importance of derives from its wealth of flora and fauna.

Chad

In northeastern Chad, nomads water their camels in the Guelta Archei on the Ennedi Plateau, a sandstone bulwark in the middle of the Sahara. A “guelta”, from Arabic, refers to a water source running at the bottom of the valley or canyon. (Image: © Hannes Rada

CHAD: OVERVIEW
Region: Middle Africa
Population: 20.3 million | 1.3% of Africa’s population
Population density: 16.1 people per square kilometre | 0.3 x African average
Surface area: 1,284,000 square kilometres | 4.3% of Africa
Capital city: N’Djamena

CHAD: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: CFA franc, Bank Of Central African States (XAF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $16.8 billion | 0.6% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $947.90 | 0.5 x African average
Agriculture: 29.7% of economy
Industry: 49% of economy
Services and other: 21.3% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 0.9%
Share of women in the labour force: 48.4%
Share of men in the labour force: 72.1%

CHAD: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): United Arab Emirates 25.9% | China 20.7% | Germany 18.7%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 26.5% | United Arab Emirates 15.2% | Cameroon 11.8%
Exports value: $3.8 billion | 0.7% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $1.4 billion | 0.2% of Africa’s imports

CHAD: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 52.5% (2022) | Africa rank: 34th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.416 | Africa rank: 51st out of 54 | Global rank: 190th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.252 | Africa rank: 49th out of 51 | Global rank: 167th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.67 | Africa rank: 47th out of 49 | Global rank: 169th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 14% | Africa rank: 30th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 14% | Public opinion: 14%
Urbanisation: 23.3% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.9% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 26.4% of seats
Internet access: 12.2% of inhabitants use the internet

CHAD: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 3.3% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 2.2 million tonnes | 0.2% of African total | 0.007% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.1 tonnes | 0.1 x African average | 0.02 x world average

CHAD: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: French and Arabic
Colonised by: France 1900-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: The Lakes of Ounianga, a series of lakes in the Sahara Desert.

Comoros

The fishing harbour of Moroni on Grande Comore. Moroni is the capital of the island and of the Comoros archipelago. In the background is the Ancienne Mosquée de Vendredi (Old Friday Mosque), built in 1427.
Photo credit IWRM AIO SIDS

COMOROS: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 867,000 | 0.06% of Africa’s population
Population density: 465.7 people per square kilometre | 9.1 x African average
Surface area: 2,235 square kilometres | 0.008% of Africa
Capital city: Moroni

COMOROS: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Comorian franc (KMF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $1.2 billion | 0.04% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,489.80 | 0.7 x African average
Agriculture: 38% of economy
Industry: 9.5% of economy
Services and other: 52.5% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 5.6%
Share of women in the labour force: 33.1%
Share of men in the labour force: 55.4%

COMOROS: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): India 24.8% | Tanzania 21.4% | France 19.6%
Major import partners (share of imports): United Arab Emirates 44.1% | France 11.3% | Pakistan 9.7%
Exports value: $54 million | 0.009% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $387 million | 0.06% of Africa’s imports

COMOROS: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 58.7% (2014) | Africa rank: 9th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.603 | Africa rank: 20th out of 54 | Global rank: 152nd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.356 | Africa rank: 29th out of 51 | Global rank: 144th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.501 | Africa rank: 18th out of 49 | Global rank: 132nd out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 17% | Africa rank: 26th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 15% | Public opinion: 19%
Urbanisation: 29.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.5% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 16.7% of seats
Internet access: 16.4% of inhabitants use the internet

COMOROS: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 17.5% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 0.5 million tonnes | 0.04% of African total | 0.002% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.6 tonnes | 0.7 x African average | 0.14 x world average

COMOROS: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Comorian, Arabic and French
Colonised by: France 1841-1975
Independence: 1975 – from France

Congo, Democratic Republic (DRC)

A view of the twin Congo capitals, facing each other across the Congo River. In this 2003 photo taken from the International Space Station, the smaller city of Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of the Congo, is at upper left. The much larger grey area at lower left is Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The cities lie at the point where the Congo River becomes navigable upstream, widening to the east into Pool Malebo – previously named Stanley Pool, in honour of himself, by the brutal 19th century British-American explorer Henry Morton Stanley, who prospected the region on behalf of King Leopold II of Belgium.
Photo credit Nasa Earth Observatory

DRC: OVERVIEW
Region: Middle Africa
Population: 109.3 million | 7.2% of Africa’s population
Population density: 48.2 people per square kilometre | 0.9 x African average
Surface area: 2,345,410 square kilometres | 7.9% of Africa
Capital city: Kinshasa

DRC: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: Congolese franc (CDF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $62.6 billion | 2.2% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $631.80 | 0.3 x African average
Agriculture: 17.9% of economy
Industry: 49.8% of economy
Services and other: 32.3% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 4.5%
Share of women in the labour force: 62.6%
Share of men in the labour force: 68.9%

DRC: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 47.1% | Singapore 8.7% | China, Hong Kong SAR 7.9%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 26.5% | South Africa 11.5% | United Arab Emirates 10%
Exports value: $15 billion | 2.6% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $13.5 billion | 2% of Africa’s imports

DRC: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 58.5% (2020) | Africa rank: 10th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.522 | Africa rank: 34th out of 54 | Global rank: 171st out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.341 | Africa rank: 31st out of 51 | Global rank: 146th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.604 | Africa rank: 42nd out of 49 | Global rank: 162nd out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 22% | Africa rank: 23rd out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 35% | Public opinion: 8%
Urbanisation: 45% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.7% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 12.8% of seats
Internet access: 27.2% of inhabitants use the internet

DRC: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 55.2% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 3.3 million tonnes | 0.3% of African total | 0.01% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.04 tonnes | 0.04 x African average | 0.01 x world average

DRC: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: French
Other languages: Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili, Tshiluba
Colonised by: King Leopold II of Belgium (as his private property) 1877-1908 | Belgium 1908-1960
Independence: 1960 – from Belgium
World Heritage Site: The 490,000-hectare Garamba National Park covers vast grass savannahs and woodlands interspersed with gallery forests and marshland.

Congo, Republic

The Basilica of Saint Anne in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, is a Catholic church built in the 1940s using a mix of European and African design styles. The massive green-tiled building is 85 metres long, with a transept 45 metres wide and a 22-metre-high arch.
Photo © Tom Robertson

CONGO REPUBLIC: OVERVIEW
Region: Middle Africa
Population: 6.3 million | 0.4% of Africa’s population
Population density: 18.5 people per square kilometre | 0.4 x African average
Surface area: 342,000 square kilometres | 1.2% of Africa
Capital city: Brazzaville

CONGO REPUBLIC: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: CFA franc, Bank Of Central African States (XAF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $15.3 billion | 0.5% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $2,570.10 | 1.3 x African average
Agriculture: 8.9% of economy
Industry: 44% of economy
Services and other: 47.1% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 19.5%
Share of women in the labour force: 66.9%
Share of men in the labour force: 68.8%

CONGO REPUBLIC: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 45.8% | Côte d’Ivoire 8.6% | Togo 7.5%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 19.6% | France 12.5% | Belgium 9%
Exports value: $4.6 billion | 0.8% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $3.6 billion | 0.5% of Africa’s imports

CONGO REPUBLIC: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 61.7% (2012) | Africa rank: 7th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.649 | Africa rank: 15th out of 54 | Global rank: 138th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.426 | Africa rank: 15th out of 51 | Global rank: 128th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.565 | Africa rank: 32nd out of 49 | Global rank: 151st out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 30% | Africa rank: 16th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 44% | Public opinion: 17%
Urbanisation: 67.4% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.9% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 14.6% of seats
Internet access: 36.2% of inhabitants use the internet

CONGO REPUBLIC: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 64.2% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 4.3 million tonnes | 0.3% of African total | 0.01% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.7 tonnes | 0.8 x African average | 0.17 x world average

CONGO REPUBLIC: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: French
Other languages: Kituba, Lingala
Colonised by: France 1880-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France

Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

An aerial view of the district of Plateau in the Côte d’Ivoire capital of Abidjan.
Photo credit Basile Zoma, UN Photo

CÔTE D’IVOIRE: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 31.9 million | 2.1% of Africa’s population
Population density: 100.4 people per square kilometre | 2 x African average
Surface area: 322,462 square kilometres | 1.1% of Africa
Capital city: Yamoussoukro

CÔTE D’IVOIRE: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: CFA franc, Central Bank of West African States (XOF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $70 billion | 2.4% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $2,486.40 | 1.2 x African average
Agriculture: 17.8% of economy
Industry: 24.2% of economy
Services and other: 58% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 2.4%
Share of women in the labour force: 56.5%
Share of men in the labour force: 72.2%

CÔTE D’IVOIRE: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Mali 8.9% | Netherlands 8.7% | Switzerland 8.1%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 14.4% | Nigeria 12.1% | France 6.7%
Exports value: $8.9 billion | 1.5% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $19.7 billion | 2.9% of Africa’s imports

CÔTE D’IVOIRE: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 54.5% (2022) | Africa rank: 25th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.582 | Africa rank: 24th out of 54 | Global rank: 157th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.35 | Africa rank: 30th out of 51 | Global rank: 145th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.589 | Africa rank: 39th out of 49 | Global rank: 159th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 25% | Africa rank: 21st out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 35% | Public opinion: 14%
Urbanisation: 51.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.5% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 13.4% of seats
Internet access: 38.4% of inhabitants use the internet

CÔTE D’IVOIRE: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 8.6% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 13.8 million tonnes | 1.1% of African total | 0.04% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.5 tonnes | 0.6 x African average | 0.12 x world average

CÔTE D’IVOIRE: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: French
Other languages: Baoulé, Sénoufo, Yacouba, Agni, Attié, Guéré, Bété, Dioula, Abé, Mahou, Wobé, Lobi and others
Colonised by: France 1893-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: The historic town of Grand-Bassam, the first capital of Côte d’Ivoire, is an example of a late 19th-century colonial town planned with quarters specialising in commerce, administration, and different housing for Europeans and Africans.

Djibouti

Lake Assal, a crater lake in the Afar Triangle, lies on the northern tip of the Great Rift Valley. At 155 metres (509 feet) below sea level, the lake is the lowest point on land in Africa and the third-lowest on Earth after the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee. With no water outflow, the lake is 10 times more saline than the sea, the second most saline body of water on the planet, and holds the world’s largest salt reserve.
Photo credit Fishercd, Wikimedia Commons

DJIBOUTI: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 1.2 million | 0.08% of Africa’s population
Population density: 50.4 people per square kilometre | 1 x African average
Surface area: 23,200 square kilometres | 0.08% of Africa
Capital city: Djibouti

DJIBOUTI: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Djibouti franc (DJF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $4 billion | 0.14% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $3,571.80 | 1.8 x African average
Agriculture: 1.4% of economy
Industry: 12% of economy
Services and other: 86.6% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 26%
Share of women in the labour force: 18.5%
Share of men in the labour force: 46.1%

DJIBOUTI: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 38.6% | United States 15.6% | India 11.5%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 31.4% | Saudi Arabia 19.2% | United Arab Emirates 15.3%
Exports value: $468 million | 0.08% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $1.8 billion | 0.3% of Africa’s imports

DJIBOUTI: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 45% (2017) | Africa rank: 45th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.513 | Africa rank: 38th out of 54 | Global rank: 175th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.341 | Africa rank: 31st out of 51 | Global rank: 146th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.481 | Africa rank: 12nd out of 49 | Global rank: 122nd out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 35% | Africa rank: 13rd out of 54
Urbanisation: 77.9% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.8% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 26.2% of seats
Internet access: 65% of inhabitants use the internet

DJIBOUTI: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 0.3% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 0.4 million tonnes | 0.03% of African total | 0.001% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.4 tonnes | 0.4 x African average | 0.1 x world average

DJIBOUTI: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: French, Arabic
Other languages: Somali, Afar
Colonised by: France 1894-1977
Independence: 1977 – from France
National heritage site: The Abourma petroglyphs, several thousand Neolithic images carved in cave walls depicting humans, wildlife, hunting and warfare, dating back to 3,000 BCE.

Egypt

A view of the Nile River and Egypt’s capital city of Cairo from the Cairo Tower at sunset.
Photo credit Ville Miettinen

EGYPT: OVERVIEW
Region: Northern Africa
Population: 116.5 million | 7.7% of Africa’s population
Population density: 117.1 people per square kilometre | 2.3 x African average
Surface area: 1,002,000 square kilometres | 3.4% of Africa
Capital city: Cairo

EGYPT: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $409.3 billion | 14.3% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $3,687.80 | 1.8 x African average
Agriculture: 11.5% of economy
Industry: 34.4% of economy
Services and other: 54.1% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 6.3%
Share of women in the labour force: 16.5%
Share of men in the labour force: 71.3%

EGYPT: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Türkiye 9% | Italy 7.5% | Saudi Arabia 6.4%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 15.6% | United States 6.5% | Saudi Arabia 6.3%
Exports value: $42.1 billion | 7.2% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $83.2 billion | 12.1% of Africa’s imports

EGYPT: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 35.6% (2018) | Africa rank: 51st out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: High | Score 0.754 | Africa rank: 4th out of 54 | Global rank: 100th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.582 | Africa rank: 5th out of 51 | Global rank: 98th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.398 | Africa rank: 7th out of 49 | Global rank: 101st out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 10% | Africa rank: 40th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 5% | Public opinion: 15%
Urbanisation: 42.7% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.9% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 27.7% of seats
Internet access: 72.2% of inhabitants use the internet

EGYPT: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 0.04% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 227.7 million tonnes | 17.5% of African total | 0.7% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 2.1 tonnes | 2.3 x African average | 0.5 x world average

EGYPT: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Arabic
Other languages: Egyptian Arabic
Colonised by: Britain 1882-1952
Independence: 1952 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: Ancient Thebes, with its temples and palaces at Karnak and Luxor, and the necropolises of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, is a striking testimony to Egyptian civilization at its height.

Equatorial Guinea

Fishing boats, beach and rock formation on Annobón Island. Equatorial Guinea is made up of three geographic parts: the mainland on the African continent, the island of Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea, and Annobón, a small volcanic island south of the equator.
Photo credit Embassy of Equatorial Guinea

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: OVERVIEW
Region: Middle Africa
Population: 1.9 million | 0.1% of Africa’s population
Population density: 67.5 people per square kilometre | 1.3 x African average
Surface area: 28,052 square kilometres | 0.09% of Africa
Capital city: Malabo

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Upper middle income
Currency: CFA franc, Bank Of Central African States (XAF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $11.8 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $7,025.70 | 3.5 x African average
Agriculture: 2.6% of economy
Industry: 52.8% of economy
Services and other: 44.7% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 8.5%
Share of women in the labour force: 51.7%
Share of men in the labour force: 59.5%

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 22.7% | India 13% | Netherlands 10.5%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 17.7% | Spain 14.6% | Gabon 12.7%
Exports value: $4.7 billion | 0.8% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $1.1 billion | 0.2% of Africa’s imports

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 54.4% (2006) | Africa rank: 26th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.674 | Africa rank: 12nd out of 54 | Global rank: 133rd out of 193
LGBT equality index: 38% | Africa rank: 11th out of 54
Urbanisation: 72.6% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 0.3% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 32% of seats
Internet access: 66.8% of inhabitants use the internet

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 87% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 6.8 million tonnes | 0.5% of African total | 0.02% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 4.2 tonnes | 4.7 x African average | 1 x world average

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Spanish, French, Portuguese
Other languages: Fang, Bube, Combe, West African Pidgin English, Annobonese, Igbo
Colonised by: Portugal 1472-1778 | Spain 1778-1968
Independence: 1968 – from Spain
National heritage site: Iron Age burial sites on the Island of Corisco, also known as Mandji, with intact 1,500-year-old tombs containing artefacts such as axes, spears, anklets, bracelets and unbroken pots.

Eritrea

A man looks out from a carriage on the Eritrean railway line between the capital of Asmara and the coastal city of Massawa. Built between between 1887 and 1932, Eritrea’s rail system still uses vintage rolling stock.
Photo credit Andrea Moroni

ERITREA: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 3.8 million | 0.3% of Africa’s population
Population density: 31.9 people per square kilometre | 0.6 x African average
Surface area: 117,600 square kilometres | 0.4% of Africa
Capital city: Asmara

ERITREA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: Nakfa (ERN)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $2.3 billion | 0.08% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $594.50 | 0.3 x African average
Agriculture: 17.1% of economy
Industry: 21.6% of economy
Services and other: 61.2% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 6.5%
Share of women in the labour force: 39.1%
Share of men in the labour force: 79.5%

ERITREA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 45.9% | United Arab Emirates 39.7% | South Korea 9.6%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 31.8% | United Arab Emirates 24.8% | Türkiye 9%
Exports value: $620.4 million | 0.1% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $1.2 billion | 0.2% of Africa’s imports

ERITREA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 54.7% (1997) | Africa rank: 24th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.503 | Africa rank: 41st out of 54 | Global rank: 178th out of 193
LGBT equality index: 5% | Africa rank: 51st out of 54
Urbanisation: 41.1% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.0% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 22% of seats
Internet access: 8.3% of inhabitants use the internet

ERITREA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 15% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 1.4 million tonnes | 0.1% of African total | 0.004% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.3 tonnes | 0.3 x African average | 0.1 x world average

ERITREA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Languages: Tigrinya, Arabic, Tigre, Kunama, Saho, Bilen, Nara, Afar, English
Colonised by: Italy 1880-1941 | Britain 1941-1952 | Ethiopia 1952-1991
Independence: 1952 – from Britain | 1991 – from Ethiopia
World Heritage Site: The historic perimeter of Asmara represents perhaps the most concentrated and intact assemblage of Modernist architecture in the world. Its urban design has remained untouched since the 1930s.

Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

Hillscape in the Malolotja Nature Reserve, Eswatini.
Photo credit Julien Lagarde

Note: In 2018 the country changed its name from Swaziland, a relic of British colonialism, to Eswatini (sometimes spelled eSwatini).

ESWATINI: OVERVIEW
Region: Southern Africa
Population: 1.2 million | 0.08% of Africa’s population
Population density: 69.4 people per square kilometre | 1.4 x African average
Surface area: 17,364 square kilometres | 0.06% of Africa
Capital city: Mbabane (administrative)

ESWATINI: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Lilangeni (SZL)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $4.7 billion | 0.2% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $3,458.60 | 1.7 x African average
Agriculture: 6.4% of economy
Industry: 46.1% of economy
Services and other: 47.5% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 24.4%
Share of women in the labour force: 48.3%
Share of men in the labour force: 62.9%

ESWATINI: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): South Africa 67.9% | Kenya 5.6% | Nigeria 3.9%
Major import partners (share of imports): South Africa 72.4% | China 9.7% | India 2.7%
Exports value: $2.0 billion | 0.3% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $1.8 billion | 0.3% of Africa’s imports

ESWATINI: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 66.3% (2017) | Africa rank: 2nd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.695 | Africa rank: 11th out of 54 | Global rank: 126th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.431 | Africa rank: 14th out of 51 | Global rank: 127th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.484 | Africa rank: 13rd out of 49 | Global rank: 124th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 28% | Africa rank: 19th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 28% | Public opinion: 27%
Urbanisation: 24.7% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 6.4% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 23% of seats
Internet access: 31.3% of inhabitants use the internet

ESWATINI: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 32% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 1.3 million tonnes | 0.1% of African total | 0.004% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 1.1 tonnes | 1.2 x African average | 0.3 x world average

ESWATINI: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: siSwati, English
Colonised by: Britain 1906-1968
Independence: 1968 – from Britain
National heritage site: Ngwenya Mine is the site of the world’s earliest mining activity, and its iron ore deposits one of the oldest geological formations in the world.

Ethiopia

Fasilides Castle in the walled Fasil Ghebbi fortress of Gondar, a city in northern Ethiopia. The fortress was built at the behest of Fasilides, emperor of Ethiopia from 1632 to 18 October 1667.
Photo credit Eric Fortin

ETHIOPIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 129.5 million | 8.6% of Africa’s population
Population density: 120.0 people per square kilometre | 2.3 x African average
Surface area: 1,104,300 square kilometres | 3.7% of Africa
Capital city: Addis Ababa

ETHIOPIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Not classified
Currency: Birr (ETB)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $156.1 billion | 5.4% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,206.20 | 0.6 x African average
Agriculture: 34.0% of economy
Industry: 23.0% of economy
Services and other: 43.0% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 4.8%
Share of women in the labour force: 78.7%
Share of men in the labour force: 89.1%

ETHIOPIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports):
Major import partners (share of imports):
Exports value: $4.1 billion | 0.7% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $14.2 billion | 2.1% of Africa’s imports

ETHIOPIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 50.6% (2016) | Africa rank: 38th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.497 | Africa rank: 43rd out of 54 | Global rank: 180th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.326 | Africa rank: 37th out of 51 | Global rank: 153rd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.497 | Africa rank: 17th out of 49 | Global rank: 131st out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 12% | Africa rank: 39th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 10% | Public opinion: 13%
Urbanisation: 23.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 4.5% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 39% of seats
Internet access: 20.6% of inhabitants use the internet

ETHIOPIA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 12% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 17.6 million tonnes | 1.3% of African total | 0.05% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.1 tonnes | 0.1 x African average | 0 x world average

ETHIOPIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Languages: Amharic, Afar, Harari, Oromo, Somali, Tigrinya
World Heritage Site: Ruins of the ancient city of Aksum, once the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia.

Gabon

An aerial view of the coastal city of Libreville, the capital of Gabon. Libreville was established by French colonialists in 1849 and settled with freed slaves.
Photo credit Kennedy8kp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

GABON: OVERVIEW
Region: Central Africa
Population: 2.4 million | 0.2% of Africa’s population
Population density: 9.6 people per square kilometre | 0.2 x African average
Surface area: 267,700 square kilometres | 0.9% of Africa
Capital city: Libreville

GABON: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Upper middle income
Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $22.1 billion | 0.8% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $8,734.50 | 4.3 x African average
Agriculture: 5.1% of economy
Industry: 51.5% of economy
Services and other: 43.5% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 21.5%
Share of women in the labour force: 47.9%
Share of men in the labour force: 62.1%

GABON: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 24.5% | India 10.7% | Cameroon 8%
Major import partners (share of imports): France 14.1% | Singapore 12.1% | China 11.3%
Exports value: $6.7 billion | 1.1% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $3.4 billion | 0.5% of Africa’s imports

GABON: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 44.4% (2017) | Africa rank: 46th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: High | Score 0.733 | Africa rank: 7th out of 54 | Global rank: 108th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.558 | Africa rank: 6th out of 51 | Global rank: 101st out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.505 | Africa rank: 21st out of 49 | Global rank: 135th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 25% | Africa rank: 21st out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 36% | Public opinion: 13%
Urbanisation: 89.7% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.9% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 21% of seats
Internet access: 62.0% of inhabitants use the internet

GABON: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 89% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 6.2 million tonnes | 0.5% of African total | 0.02% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 2.6 tonnes | 2.8 x African average | 0.7 x world average

GABON: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: French
Other languages: Fang, Myene, Punu, Nzebi
Colonised by: France 1885-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: The Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda demonstrates an unusual interface between dense and well-conserved tropical rainforest and relict savannah environments with a great diversity of species, including endangered large mammals.

The Gambia

A dance festival in Dankunku, Central River, the Gambia. The tiny country’s rich music and dance traditions are the product of very diverse influences.
Photo credit Kevin Sharp

THE GAMBIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 2.9 million | 0.2% of Africa’s population
Population density: 264.5 people per square kilometre | 5.1 x African average
Surface area: 11,300 square kilometres | 0.04% of Africa
Capital city: Banjul

THE GAMBIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: Dalasi (GMD)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $2.1 billion | 0.07% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $696.40 | 0.3 x African average
Agriculture: 20.9% of economy
Industry: 17.2% of economy
Services and other: 61.9% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 9.6%
Share of women in the labour force: 55.8%
Share of men in the labour force: 74.8%

THE GAMBIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Mali 44.7% | China 29.1% | Senegal 10.9%
Major import partners (share of imports): Togo 25.5% | Côte d’Ivoire 12.4% | China 7.6%
Exports value: $106.0 million | 0.02% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $484.4 million | 0.07% of Africa’s imports

THE GAMBIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 53.6% (2021) | Africa rank: 28th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.524 | Africa rank: 33rd out of 54 | Global rank: 170th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.329 | Africa rank: 35th out of 51 | Global rank: 151st out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.578 | Africa rank: 35th out of 49 | Global rank: 154th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 3% | Africa rank: 53rd out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 2% | Public opinion: 4%
Urbanisation: 63.9% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.6% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 10% of seats
Internet access: 30.0% of inhabitants use the internet

THE GAMBIA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 48% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 0.8 million tonnes | 0.06% of African total | 0.002% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.3 tonnes | 0.3 x African average | 0.1 x world average

THE GAMBIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: English
Other languages: Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Serer, Jola
Colonised by: Britain 1821-1965
Independence: 1965 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: Kunta Kinteh Island and related sites present a testimony to the main periods and facets of the encounter between Africa and Europe along the River Gambia, a continuum stretching from pre-colonial and pre-slavery times to independence.

Ghana

Hair braiding at Makola Market in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
Photo credit Fiona Graham, WorldRemit, CC BY-SA 2.0.

GHANA: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 34.1 million | 2.3% of Africa’s population
Population density: 142.0 people per square kilometre | 2.7 x African average
Surface area: 238,500 square kilometres | 0.8% of Africa
Capital city: Accra

GHANA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: cedi (GHS)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $74.3 billion | 2.6% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $2,177.10 | 1.1 x African average
Agriculture: 18.6% of economy
Industry: 33.8% of economy
Services and other: 47.6% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 4.3%
Share of women in the labour force: 66.5%
Share of men in the labour force: 73.9%

GHANA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Switzerland 18.2% | South Africa 11.7% | United Arab Emirates 10.2% | Major import partners (share of imports): China 18.7% | Netherlands 9.6% | India 6.4%
Exports value: $14.3 billion | 2.3% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $13.9 billion | 2.1% of Africa’s imports

GHANA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 57.3% (2017) | Africa rank: 14th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.628 | Africa rank: 17th out of 54 | Global rank: 143rd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.399 | Africa rank: 18th out of 51 | Global rank: 132nd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.514 | Africa rank: 22nd out of 49 | Global rank: 138th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 19% | Africa rank: 25th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 20% | Public opinion: 18%
Urbanisation: 58.6% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 4.4% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 14% of seats
Internet access: 68.2% of inhabitants use the internet

GHANA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 41% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 13.1 million tonnes | 1.0% of African total | 0.04% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.4 tonnes | 0.4 x African average | 0.1 x world average

GHANA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: English
Other languages: Asante Twi, Dagaare, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gonja, Kasem, Fante, Akuapem Twi, Nzema, Wasa, Talensi, Frafra, Hausa
Colonised by: Portugal 1482–1642 | Britain 1821-1957
Independence: 1957 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: The Asante Traditional Buildings, found to the north-east of Kumasi, are the last material remains of the great Asante civilization that reached its high point in the 18th century.

Guinea

Fisherwomen on the banks of the Niger River in the Kankan region of northeastern Guinea, on the Mali border.
Photo credit Julien Harnels

GUINEA: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 14.2 million | 0.9% of Africa’s population
Population density: 58.2 people per square kilometre | 1.1 x African average
Surface area: 245,800 square kilometres | 0.8% of Africa
Capital city: Conakry

GUINEA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Guinean franc (GNF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $20.6 billion | 0.7% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,450.40 | 0.7 x African average
Agriculture: 19.2% of economy
Industry: 38.5% of economy
Services and other: 42.3% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 4.6%
Share of women in the labour force: 63.9%
Share of men in the labour force: 78.6%

GUINEA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 48.7% | United Arab Emirates 23.2% | India 19.3%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 40.2% | India 8.5% | Netherlands 6.8%
Exports value: $7.9 billion | 1.3% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $5.9 billion | 0.9% of Africa’s imports

GUINEA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 45.9% (2019) | Africa rank: 44th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.5 | Africa rank: 42nd out of 54 | Global rank: 179th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.302 | Africa rank: 41st out of 51 | Global rank: 159th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.609 | Africa rank: 43rd out of 49 | Global rank: 163rd out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 15% | Africa rank: 28th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 16% | Public opinion: 14%
Urbanisation: 39.1% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.6% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 30% of seats
Internet access: 39.9% of inhabitants use the internet

GUINEA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 27% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 3.4 million tonnes | 0.3% of African total | 0.01% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.2 tonnes | 0.2 x African average | 0.05 x world average

GUINEA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: French
Other languages: Maninka, Fula, Susu
Colonised by: France 1898-1958
Independence: 1958 – from France
World Heritage Site: Mount Nimba, rising above the surrounding savannah, its slopes covered by dense forest at the foot of grassy mountain pastures, harbours rich flora and fauna that includes endemic species such as the viviparous toad.

Guinea-Bissau

A false-colour composite satellite image of the rivers, coast and islands of Guinea-Bissau. Infrared, red and blue light wavelengths bring out details of the complex patterns of the country’s shallow coastal waters, where silt carried by the Geba and other rivers washes out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Photo credit Nasa/USGS EROS Data Center, CC BY 2.0

GUINEA-BISSAU: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 2.2 million | 0.15% of Africa’s population
Population density: 78.3 people per square kilometre | 1.5 x African average
Surface area: 36,125 square kilometres | 0.12% of Africa
Capital city: Bissau

GUINEA-BISSAU: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: CFA franc, Central Bank of West African States (XOF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $1.6 billion | 0.05% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $747.80 | 0.4 x African average
Agriculture: 32.3% of economy
Industry: 14% of economy
Services and other: 53.7% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 3.1%
Share of women in the labour force: 48.8%
Share of men in the labour force: 63.4%

GUINEA-BISSAU: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): India 84.1% | Chile 4.5% | Côte d’Ivoire 2.8%
Major import partners (share of imports): Portugal 32.7% | Senegal 17.7% | China 14.9%
Exports value: $465 million | 0.08% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $257 million | 0.04% of Africa’s imports

GUINEA-BISSAU: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 49.3% (2022) | Africa rank: 40th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.514 | Africa rank: 37th out of 54 | Global rank: 174th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.331 | Africa rank: 34th out of 51 | Global rank: 150th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.632 | Africa rank: 45th out of 49 | Global rank: 166th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 32% | Africa rank: 14th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 40% | Public opinion: 24%
Women in national parliament hold 9.8% of seats
Urbanisation: 43.8% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.6% of GDP
Internet access: 31.6% of inhabitants use the internet

GUINEA-BISSAU: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 70.1% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 300,000 tonnes | 0.02% of African total | 0.0009% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.2 tonnes | 0.2 x African average | 0.05 x world average

GUINEA-BISSAU: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: Portuguese
Other languages: Guinea-Bissau Creole (Kriol), Balanta, Fula, Mandjak, Mandinka, Papel, French
Colonised by: Portugal 1474-1973
Independence: 1973 – from Portugal
National heritage site: The Archipelago of Bijagos, consisting of 88 islands and islets, is the most biodiverse region of Guinea-Bissau.

Kenya

A panoramic view of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and commercial centre. The city proper has a population of 3.1-million people, and its wider metropolitan area 6.5-million. Nairobi’s name comes from the Maasai “enkare nairobi”, or “cool water”, a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city.
Photo credit Babak Fakhamzadeh

KENYA: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 57.0 million | 3.8% of Africa’s population
Population density: 100.6 people per square kilometre | 1.9 x African average
Surface area: 580,400 square kilometres | 1.9% of Africa
Capital city: Nairobi

KENYA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Kenyan shilling (KES)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $113.4 billion | 3.9% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,989.20 | 1.0 x African average
Agriculture: 21.2% of economy
Industry: 17.3% of economy
Services and other: 61.5% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 5.7%
Share of women in the labour force: 67.7%
Share of men in the labour force: 75.8%

KENYA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Uganda 11.1% | United States 9.2% | Netherlands 8%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 18.2% | United Arab Emirates 16.4% | India 10.1%
Exports value: $6.8 billion | 1.1% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $19.2 billion | 2.9% of Africa’s imports

KENYA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 53.3% (2021) | Africa rank: 30th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.628 | Africa rank: 17th out of 54 | Global rank: 143rd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.456 | Africa rank: 12nd out of 51 | Global rank: 122nd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.526 | Africa rank: 27th out of 49 | Global rank: 143rd out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 21% | Africa rank: 24th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 24% | Public opinion: 19%
Urbanisation: 30.4% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 5.1% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 23% of seats
Internet access: 29.0% of inhabitants use the internet

KENYA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 7% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 16.6 million tonnes | 1.2% of African total | 0.05% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.3 tonnes | 0.3 x African average | 0.1 x world average

KENYA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: English, Kiswahili
Colonised by: Britain 1888-1962
Independence: 1963 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: The Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests, 11 fortified villages set in forested land running over 200 kilometres along the coast. Known as kayas, the sites were first settled by the Mijikenda people in about 1560.

Lesotho

Dark clouds and sunshine in the Lesotho lowlands, close to the Fouriesburg border post into South Africa. These are just foothills in comparison to the rest of the mountainous country. Lesotho is the only country in the world which lies, in its entirety, over a kilometre above sea level. In fact, over 80% of its land is at an elevation of 1,800 metres or higher.
Photo credit Andrew Ashton

LESOTHO: OVERVIEW
Region: Southern Africa
Population: 2.3 million | 0.2% of Africa’s population
Population density: 77 people per square kilometre | 1.5 x African average
Surface area: 30,355 square kilometres | 0.1% of Africa
Capital city: Maseru

LESOTHO: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: loti (LSL)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $2.3 billion | 0.08% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $992.00 | 0.5 x African average
Agriculture: 7.1% of economy
Industry: 34.7% of economy
Services and other: 58.2% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 16.1%
Share of women in the labour force: 57.4%
Share of men in the labour force: 72.8%

LESOTHO: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): South Africa 50.4% | United States 26.2% | Belgium 19.1%
Major import partners (share of imports): South Africa 77.4% | China 6.2% | Taiwan 4.2%
Exports value: $825 million | 0.1% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $1.8 billion | 0.3% of Africa’s imports

LESOTHO: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 58.4% (2018) | Africa rank: 11th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.55 | Africa rank: 31st out of 54 | Global rank: 167th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.357 | Africa rank: 28th out of 51 | Global rank: 143rd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.534 | Africa rank: 28th out of 49 | Global rank: 144th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 43% | Africa rank: 9th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 53% | Public opinion: 32%
Urbanisation: 28.6% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 6.1% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 25% of seats
Internet access: 47% of inhabitants use the internet

LESOTHO: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 1.1% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 3.2 million tonnes | 0.2% of African total | 0.01% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 1.4 tonnes | 1.6 x African average | 0.3 x world average

LESOTHO: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: English, Sesotho
Colonised by: Britain 1868-1966
Independence: 1966 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: The Maloti Drakensberg Transboundary World Heritage Site is known for its rock art and mountain landscape.

Liberia

The coastal city of Monrovia, Liberia’s capital and largest city. Monrovia is named after American president James Monroe (1758 – 1831), a prominent supporter of the colonisation of Liberia by the resettlement of freed slaves.
Photo credit JB Dodane

LIBERIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 5.6 million | 0.4% of Africa’s population
Population density: 58.3 people per square kilometre | 1.1 x African average
Surface area: 111,369 square kilometres | 0.4% of Africa
Capital city: Monrovia

LIBERIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: Liberian dollar (LRD)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $3.3 billion | 0.1% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $615.80 | 0.3 x African average
Agriculture: 74% of economy
Industry: 8.6% of economy
Services and other: 17.5% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 2.8%
Share of women in the labour force: 72.6%
Share of men in the labour force: 81.5%

LIBERIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Switzerland 31% | United Kingdom 13.2% | France 8.6%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 38.5% | Singapore 20% | South Korea 15.1%
Exports value: $717 million | 0.1% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $2.6 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s imports

LIBERIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 50.8% (2016) | Africa rank: 37th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.51 | Africa rank: 40th out of 54 | Global rank: 177th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.326 | Africa rank: 37th out of 51 | Global rank: 153rd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.646 | Africa rank: 46th out of 49 | Global rank: 167th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 16% | Africa rank: 27th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 24% | Public opinion: 9%
Urbanisation: 51.6% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.6% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 11% of seats
Internet access: 30.1% of inhabitants use the internet

LIBERIA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 78.8% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 0.6 million tonnes | 0.05% of African total | 0.002% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.1 tonnes | 0.1 x African average | 0.02 x world average

LIBERIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: English
National heritage site: Providence Island is a former trade post and was the first point of arrival for freed American Slaves. The guitar-shaped island has a cement pillar and concrete floor believed to be the first concrete work in the history of the country, as well as an ancient water well and an old docking platform for incoming canoes and ships. On the site is also a 250-year-old cotton tree, the oldest in Liberia.

Libya

In the ancient desert oasis town of Ghadames in northwestern Libya, buildings are designed with thick walls of mud, lime, and palm tree trunks to withstand the Sahara’s extremes of heat and cold. Covered alleyways between dwellings help cut the summer heat.
Photo credit Luca Galuzzi

LIBYA: OVERVIEW
Region: Northern Africa
Population: 7.4 million | 0.5% of Africa’s population
Population density: 4.4 people per square kilometre | 0.09 x African average
Surface area: 1,676,198 square kilometres | 5.7% of Africa
Capital city: Tripoli

LIBYA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Upper middle income
Currency: Libyan dinar (LYD)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $40.5 billion | 1.4% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $5,950.50 | 3 x African average
Agriculture: 3.7% of economy
Industry: 43.8% of economy
Services and other: 52.5% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 18.1%
Share of women in the labour force: 35%
Share of men in the labour force: 61.6%

LIBYA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Italy 22.1% | Germany 14.3% | Spain 8.6%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 17.6% | Türkiye 14.7% | Italy 8.3%
Exports value: $25.1 billion | 4.3% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $11.9 billion | 1.7% of Africa’s imports

LIBYA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 30.9% (2008) | Africa rank: 53rd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: High | Score 0.721 | Africa rank: 9th out of 54 | Global rank: 115th out of 193
Gender inequality index: Score 0.253 | Africa rank: 2nd out of 49 | Global rank: 65th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 13% | Africa rank: 35th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 8% | Public opinion: 19%
Urbanisation: 80.4% of inhabitants live in cities
:% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 16.5% of seats
Internet access: 88.4% of inhabitants use the internet

LIBYA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 0.1% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 43.5 million tonnes | 3.3% of African total | 0.1% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 6.5 tonnes | 7.2 x African average | 1.5 x world average

LIBYA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Arabic
Other languages: Libyan Arabic, Tamazight, Italian
Colonised by: Italy 1911-1943
Independence: 1947 – from Italy
World Heritage Site: Cyrene was one of the principal cities in the ancient Hellenic world.

Madagascar

The Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava in western Madagascar. There are nine species of baobab tree in the world, and six of them are only found in Madagascar. Of the rest, two are on the mainland of Africa, and one in Australia. (Frank Vassen, CC BY 2.0)

MADAGASCAR: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 32 million | 2.1% of Africa’s population
Population density: 54.9 people per square kilometre | 1.1 x African average
Surface area: 587,041 square kilometres | 2% of Africa
Capital city: Antananarivo

MADAGASCAR: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: ariary (MGA)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $15 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $505.00 | 0.3 x African average
Agriculture: 23.5% of economy
Industry: 23.6% of economy
Services and other: 50.4% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 1.8%
Share of women in the labour force: 82.6%
Share of men in the labour force: 87.8%

MADAGASCAR: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): France 14.5% | United States 12.6% | Japan 8.2%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 17% | Oman 13.5% | France 11.2%
Exports value: $3.3 billion | 0.6% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $4.8 billion | 0.7% of Africa’s imports

MADAGASCAR: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 56.7% (2013) | Africa rank: 18th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.487 | Africa rank: 45th out of 54 | Global rank: 183rd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.319 | Africa rank: 39th out of 51 | Global rank: 157th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.584 | Africa rank: 37th out of 49 | Global rank: 157th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 32% | Africa rank: 14th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 41% | Public opinion: 22%
Urbanisation: 37.9% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.2% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 18.5% of seats
Internet access: 20.6% of inhabitants use the internet

MADAGASCAR: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 21.3% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 4.4 million tonnes | 0.3% of African total | 0.01% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.2 tonnes | 0.2 x African average | 0.05 x world average

MADAGASCAR: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Malagasy, French
Colonised by: France 1896-1958
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, the cradle of a 500-year-old kingdom and dynasty that retains enormous spiritual importance to this day.

Malawi

A sense of the size of Lake Malawi, in a view from the road to the town of Livingstonia in the north of the country. Lake Malawi also borders Tanzania, where it is known as Lake Nyasa, and Mozambique, where it is known as Lago Niassa. It is the ninth largest lake in the world and home to more species of fish than any other. Some 90% of these species are endemic, only found in Lake Malawi.
Photo credit Jack Zalium

MALAWI: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 21.7 million | 1.4% of Africa’s population
Population density: 229 people per square kilometre | 4.5 x African average
Surface area: 117,726 square kilometres | 0.4% of Africa
Capital city: Lilongwe

MALAWI: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: kwacha (MWK)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $12.6 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $615.50 | 0.3 x African average
Agriculture: 29.4% of economy
Industry: 18% of economy
Services and other: 52.5% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 5%
Share of women in the labour force: 63.7%
Share of men in the labour force: 75.4%

MALAWI: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Belgium 15.9% | Tanzania 10.8% | China 5.6%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 17.4% | South Africa 15.6% | United Arab Emirates 14.1%
Exports value: $966 million | 0.2% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $3.1 billion | 0.5% of Africa’s imports

MALAWI: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 53.5% (2020) | Africa rank: 29th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.517 | Africa rank: 35th out of 54 | Global rank: 172nd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.365 | Africa rank: 23rd out of 51 | Global rank: 137th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.581 | Africa rank: 36th out of 49 | Global rank: 155th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 8% | Africa rank: 46th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 10% | Public opinion: 5%
Urbanisation: 17.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.3% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 20.7% of seats
Internet access: 27.7% of inhabitants use the internet

MALAWI: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 23.3% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 1.6 million tonnes | 0.1% of African total | 0.004% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.1 tonnes | 0.1 x African average | 0.02 x world average

MALAWI: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: English
Other languages: Chichewa
Colonised by: Britain 1891-1964
Independence: 1964 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: The Chongoni Rock Art Area, lying in a cluster of forested granite hills high on the plateau of central Malawi, holds the richest concentration of rock art in Central Africa.

Mali

The Grand Mosque of Djenné in the Niger Delta region of central Mali is the largest adobe – mud-built – structure in the world. The first mosque on the site is thought to have been built in the 1200s. The current structure is a century old, built in 1907. After the rainy season the mosque’s surface has been washed thin, so the local community gathers to replaster it. The protruding wooden struts are not structural: they provide footholds so people can reach every part of the building to reseal its surface with mud.
Photo credit Marco Dormino, UN Photo

MALI: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 24.5 million | 1.6% of Africa’s population
Population density: 20.1 people per square kilometre | 0.4 x African average
Surface area: 1,240,192 square kilometres | 4.2% of Africa
Capital city: Bamako

MALI: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: CFA franc (XOF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $18.8 billion | 0.7% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $833.30 | 0.4 x African average
Agriculture: 38.6% of economy
Industry: 21.9% of economy
Services and other: 39.4% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 3.2%
Share of women in the labour force: 52%
Share of men in the labour force: 82.2%

MALI: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): United Arab Emirates 79.2% | Switzerland 12.4% | Australia 4.1%
Major import partners (share of imports): Senegal 17% | China 14.3% | Côte d’Ivoire 14.1%
Exports value: $4.5 billion | 0.8% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $8.7 billion | 1.3% of Africa’s imports

MALI: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 39.1% (2021) | Africa rank: 49th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.419 | Africa rank: 49th out of 54 | Global rank: 188th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.281 | Africa rank: 44th out of 51 | Global rank: 162nd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.612 | Africa rank: 44th out of 49 | Global rank: 164th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 8% | Africa rank: 46th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 6% | Public opinion: 9%
Urbanisation: 43.1% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 4.4% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 28.6% of seats
Internet access: 33.1% of inhabitants use the internet

MALI: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 10.9% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 6.3 million tonnes | 0.5% of African total | 0.02% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.3 tonnes | 0.3 x African average | 0.07 x world average

MALI: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: French
Other languages: Bambara, Bomu, Tieyaxo Bozo, Toro So Dogon, Maasina Fulfulde, Hassaniya Arabic, Mamara Senoufo, Kita Maninkakan, Soninke, Koyraboro Senni, Syenara Senoufo, Tamasheq, Xaasongaxango
Colonised by: France 1892-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: The city of Timbuktu was an intellectual and spiritual capital and the centre of Islamic thought in Africa from the 15th to the 16th centuries.

Mauritania

Men playing the traditional Mauritanian board game of Kharbaga – similar to zamma and draughts – in Ouadane (or Wādān), a small town in the desert region of central Mauritania.
Photo credit Evgeni Zotov

MAURITANIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 5.2 million | 0.3% of Africa’s population
Population density: 5 people per square kilometre | 0.1 x African average
Surface area: 1,030,700 square kilometres | 3.5% of Africa
Capital city: Nouakchott

MAURITANIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: ouguiya (MRU)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $11 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $2,322 | 1.2 x African average
Agriculture: 20.3% of economy
Industry: 33.% of economy
Services and other: 4.1% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 10.%
Share of women in the labour force: 26.4%
Share of men in the labour force: 57.2%

MAURITANIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 23.3% | Canada 18.4% | Spain 11.2%
Major import partners (share of imports): United Arab Emirates 18.3% | Spain 16.1% | Japan 6.8%
Exports value: $3.3 billion | 0.6% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $5.3 billion | 0.8% of Africa’s imports

MAURITANIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 47.9% (2020) | Africa rank: 43rd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.563 | Africa rank: 28th out of 54 | Global rank: 163rd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.374 | Africa rank: 22nd out of 51 | Global rank: 136th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.603 | Africa rank: 41st out of 49 | Global rank: 161st out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 10% | Africa rank: 40th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 4% | Public opinion: 16%
Urbanisation: 54.5% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 1.7% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 23.3% of seats
Internet access: 44.4% of inhabitants use the internet

MAURITANIA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 0.3% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 4.6 million tonnes | 0.4% of African total | 0.01% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 1 tonne | 1.1 x African average | 0.2 x world average

MAURITANIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: Arabic
Other languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof, Zenaga Berber, French
Colonised by: France 1903-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: The Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata were trading and religious centres founded in the 11th and 12th centuries to serve caravans crossing the Sahara.

Mauritius

Le Morne Brabant Peninsula in Mauritius. The island’s natural beauty has allowed it to develop a successful tourism industry, which contributes some 8.4% to the country’s GDP.
Photo credit Sofitel So Mauritius

MAURITIUS: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 1.3 million | 0.08% of Africa’s population
Population density: 626.2 people per square kilometre | 12.2 x African average
Surface area: 1,979 square kilometres | 0.007% of Africa
Capital city: Port Louis

MAURITIUS: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Upper middle income
Currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $12.9 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $9,92.80 | 4.9 x African average
Agriculture: 3.9% of economy
Industry: 21% of economy
Services and other: 75.1% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 4.2%
Share of women in the labour force: 43%
Share of men in the labour force: 68%

MAURITIUS: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): France 14.7% | South Africa 10.8% | United States 9.4%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 15.8% | United Arab Emirates 11.1% | India 10.2%
Exports value: $1.9 billion | 0.3% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $6.3 billion | 0.9% of Africa’s imports

MAURITIUS: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 49.2% (2017) | Africa rank: 41st out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Very High | Score 0.806 | Africa rank: 2nd out of 54 | Global rank: 73rd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.669 | Africa rank: 2nd out of 51 | Global rank: 69th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.352 | Africa rank: 4th out of 49 | Global rank: 87th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 53% | Africa rank: 4th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 55% | Public opinion: 52%
Urbanisation: 40.8% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 4.7% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 20% of seats
Internet access: 75.5% of inhabitants use the internet

MAURITIUS: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 19.4% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 4.1 million tonnes | 0.3% of African total | 0.01% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 3.1 tonnes | 3.4 x African average | 0.7 x world average

MAURITIUS: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Languages: Mauritian Creole, French, English, Bhojpuri
Colonised by: Netherlands 1638-1710 | France 1715-1810 | Britain 1810-1968
Independence: 1968 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: Aapravasi Ghat, a fortlike stone complex established by the UK in 1834, a year after slavery was abolished, as a global transit point for a new kind of slavery: indentured labour. About half a million mainly Indian labourers were processed through the site from 1849 to 1923.

Morocco

Street life in Essaouira, an ancient city in western Morocco on the Atlantic coast.
Photo credit Andrea Moroni

MOROCCO: OVERVIEW
Region: Northern Africa
Population: 38.1 million | 2.5% of Africa’s population
Population density: 85.3 people per square kilometre | 1.7 x African average
Surface area: 446,550 square kilometres | 1.5% of Africa
Capital city: Rabat

MOROCCO: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $130.9 billion | 4.6% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $3,494.90 | 1.7 x African average
Agriculture: 11.4% of economy
Industry: 28.2% of economy
Services and other: 60.3% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 9.7%
Share of women in the labour force: 20%
Share of men in the labour force: 67.9%

MOROCCO: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Spain 19.6% | France 19.1% | India 6.4%
Major import partners (share of imports): Spain 14.1% | France 10.6% | China 10%
Exports value: $44 billion | 7.6% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $71.5 billion | 10.4% of Africa’s imports

MOROCCO: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 43.4% (2014) | Africa rank: 47th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: High | Score 0.71 | Africa rank: 10th out of 54 | Global rank: 120th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.517 | Africa rank: 7th out of 51 | Global rank: 109th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.438 | Africa rank: 8th out of 49 | Global rank: 113rd out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 13% | Africa rank: 35th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 12% | Public opinion: 15%
Urbanisation: 63% of inhabitants live in cities
Women in national parliament hold 24.3% of seats
Internet access: 90.7% of inhabitants use the internet

MOROCCO: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 12.9% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 67.1 million tonnes | 5.2% of African total | 0.2% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 1.8 tonnes | 2 x African average | 0.4 x world average

MOROCCO: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Arabic, Berber
Colonised by: Spain 1912-1956 | France 1912-1956
Independence: 1956 – from Spain and France
World Heritage Site: The Medina of Marrakesh, a massive old Islamic capital from the 11th century enclosed by 16 kilometres of ramparts and gates.

Mozambique

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte (Our Lady of the Bulwark) lies next to Fort São Sebastião on the easternmost tip of the Island of Mozambique (Ilha de Moçambique), off the coast of northern Mozambique. Portuguese colonial forces established a port and naval base on the island in 1507. The chapel, built in 1522, is thought to be the oldest European building in the southern hemisphere.
Photo credit Raul Soler, CC BY-NC 2.0

MOZAMBIQUE: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 34.6 million | 2.3% of Africa’s population
Population density: 44 people per square kilometre | 0.9 x African average
Surface area: 799,380 square kilometres | 2.7% of Africa
Capital city: Maputo

MOZAMBIQUE: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: Mozambican metical (MZN)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $18.4 billion | 0.6% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $558.30 | 0.3 x African average
Agriculture: 29.7% of economy
Industry: 25.3% of economy
Services and other: 45% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 3.7%
Share of women in the labour force: 78.3%
Share of men in the labour force: 79.6%

MOZAMBIQUE: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): India 15.6% | South Africa 14.2% | United Kingdom 14%
Major import partners (share of imports): South Korea 23.2% | South Africa 15.4% | United Arab Emirates 10.3%
Exports value: $8.3 billion | 1.4% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $10.1 billion | 1.5% of Africa’s imports

MOZAMBIQUE: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 63% (2020) | Africa rank: 5th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.493 | Africa rank: 44th out of 54 | Global rank: 182nd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.297 | Africa rank: 42nd out of 51 | Global rank: 160th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.479 | Africa rank: 11th out of 49 | Global rank: 120th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 51% | Africa rank: 6th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 55% | Public opinion: 47%
Urbanisation: 36.5% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 6.9% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 43.2% of seats
Internet access: 21.2% of inhabitants use the internet

MOZAMBIQUE: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 46.4% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 6.9 million tonnes | 0.5% of African total | 0.02% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.2 tonnes | 0.2 x African average | 0.05 x world average

MOZAMBIQUE: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: Portuguese
Other languages: Emakhuwa, Cisena, Xichangana, Elomwe, Cishona, Xitswa, Xironga, Chichewa, Cinyungwe, Cicopi, Ciyao, Shimakonde
Colonised by: Portugal 1498-1975
Independence: 1975 – from Portugal
World Heritage Site: The Island of Mozambique and its fortified city was a former Portuguese trading post on the route to India, used since the 16th century.

Namibia

The pretty harbour town of Lüderitz on the forbidding west coast of Namibia, on the Atlantic seaboard, was one of the country’s earliest colonial settlements. Today it is a niche tourist destination.
Photo credit Damien du Toit

NAMIBIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Southern Africa
Population: 3 million | 0.2% of Africa’s population
Population density: 3.7 people per square kilometre | 0.07 x African average
Surface area: 825,229 square kilometres | 2.8% of Africa
Capital city: Windhoek

NAMIBIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Namibia dollar (NAD)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $12.6 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $4,911.30 | 2.4 x African average
Agriculture: 9.3% of economy
Industry: 30.4% of economy
Services and other: 60.3% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 19.4%
Share of women in the labour force: 56%
Share of men in the labour force: 63.7%

NAMIBIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Botswana 19.3% | South Africa 18.6% | China 12.5%
Major import partners (share of imports): South Africa 35.7% | China 8.9% | India 6.7%
Exports value: $5.5 billion | 0.9% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $7.2 billion | 1.1% of Africa’s imports

NAMIBIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 61.6% (2016) | Africa rank: 8th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.665 | Africa rank: 14th out of 54 | Global rank: 136th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.438 | Africa rank: 13rd out of 51 | Global rank: 125th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.448 | Africa rank: 10th out of 49 | Global rank: 116th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 44% | Africa rank: 8th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 54% | Public opinion: 33%
Urbanisation: 51% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 9.5% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 44.2% of seats
Internet access: 62.2% of inhabitants use the internet

NAMIBIA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 8% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 3.5 million tonnes | 0.3% of African total | 0.01% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 1.4 tonnes | 1.6 x African average | 0.33 x world average

NAMIBIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: English
Other languages: Afrikaans, German, Ju’hoansi, Khoekhoegowab, Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Rukwangali, Rumanyo, Setswana, Silozi, Thimbukushu
Colonised by: Germany 1884-1915 | South Africa 1915-1990
Independence: 1990 – from South Africa
World Heritage Site: The Namib Sand Sea, covering an area of over 3-million hectares, is the only coastal desert in the world that includes extensive dune fields influenced by fog.

Niger

A classroom at Carrefour Jeunesse Niger, a vocational dressmaking school in Niamey. The school designed by architect Odile Vandermeeren and constructed by local artisans using traditional adobe building techniques, with the murals painted by local female artists. The project was a finalist in the international Terra Award for earthen architecture.
Photo credit Gustave Deghilage

NIGER: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 27 million | 1.8% of Africa’s population
Population density: 21.3 people per square kilometre | 0.4 x African average
Surface area: 1,267,000 square kilometres | 4.3% of Africa
Capital city: Niamey

NIGER: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: CFA franc, Central Bank of West African States (XOF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $15.4 billion | 0.5% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $588.20 | 0.3 x African average
Agriculture: 39.5% of economy
Industry: 21.8% of economy
Services and other: 38.8% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 0.5%
Share of women in the labour force: 62.3%
Share of men in the labour force: 84.4%

NIGER: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): France 33.2% | Mali 18.7% | Nigeria 16%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 23.9% | France 21% | India 10.3%
Exports value: $519 million | 0.09% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $2.5 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s imports

NIGER: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 48.8% (2022) | Africa rank: 42nd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.419 | Africa rank: 49th out of 54 | Global rank: 188th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.265 | Africa rank: 47th out of 51 | Global rank: 165th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.591 | Africa rank: 40th out of 49 | Global rank: 160th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 26% | Africa rank: 20th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 40% | Public opinion: 12%
Urbanisation: 16.5% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.5% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 30.7% of seats
Internet access: 16.9% of inhabitants use the internet

NIGER: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 0.8% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 2.6 million tonnes | 0.2% of African total | 0.008% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.1 tonnes | 0.1 x African average | 0.02 x world average

NIGER: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: French
Other languages: Arabic, Buduma, Fulfulde, Gourmanchéma, Hausa, Kanuri, Zarma & Songhai, Tamasheq, Tassawaq, Tebu
Colonised by: France 1900-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: Agadez, known as the gateway to the Sahara desert, developed in the 15th and 16th centuries when the Sultanate of Aïr was established and Touareg groups settled in the city in the boundaries of nomadic encampments, creating street patterns still in place today.

Nigeria

The National Mosque of Nigeria in Abuja, the country’s capital. The building was constructed in 1984.
Photo credit Jeff Attaway

NIGERIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 232.7 million | 15.4% of Africa’s population
Population density: 255.5 people per square kilometre | 5 x African average
Surface area: 923,768 square kilometres | 3.1% of Africa
Capital city: Abuja

NIGERIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: naira (NGN)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $475.1 billion | 16.5% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $2,173.80 | 1.1 x African average
Agriculture: 24.1% of economy
Industry: 31.2% of economy
Services and other: 44.7% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 3.5%
Share of women in the labour force: 52.3%
Share of men in the labour force: 65.9%

NIGERIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Netherlands 12.6% | Spain 9.4% | India 8.4%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 18.4% | Singapore 14.3% | Belgium 9.4%
Exports value: $65.1 billion | 11.2% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $65 billion | 9.5% of Africa’s imports

NIGERIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 36.2% (2019) | Africa rank: 50th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.56 | Africa rank: 29th out of 54 | Global rank: 164th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.379 | Africa rank: 21st out of 51 | Global rank: 135th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.677 | Africa rank: 49th out of 49 | Global rank: 171st out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 15% | Africa rank: 28th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 15% | Public opinion: 15%
Urbanisation: 51.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Women in national parliament hold 3.9% of seats
Internet access: 35.5% of inhabitants use the internet

NIGERIA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 23.6% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 108.7 million tonnes | 8.4% of African total | 0.3% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.5 tonnes | 0.6 x African average | 0.12 x world average

NIGERIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: English
Other languages: Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Birom, Edo, Efik, Fulfulde, Gbagyi, Hyam, Ibibio, Idoma, Igala, Igbira, Ijaw, Ikwerre, Itsekiri, Jju, Jukun, Kanuri, Atyap, Margi, Nupe, Tiv, Urhobo-Isoko
Colonised by: Britain 1800-1960
Independence: 1960 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: The dense forest of the Osun Sacred Grove, on the outskirts of the city of Osogbo, is one of the last remnants of primary high forest in southern Nigeria. It is regarded as the abode of the goddess of fertility Osun, one of the pantheon of Yoruba gods.

Rwanda

Clouds in the sky above Kigali City Tower on Avenue du Commerce in the central business district of Kigali, the capital and largest city of Rwanda.
Photo credit Adam Jones

RWANDA: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 14.3 million | 0.9% of Africa’s population
Population density: 588.9 people per square kilometre | 11.5 x African average
Surface area: 26,338 square kilometres | 0.09% of Africa
Capital city: Kigali

RWANDA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: Rwandan franc (RWF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $13.3 billion | 0.5% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $966.30 | 0.5 x African average
Agriculture: 26.9% of economy
Industry: 22.9% of economy
Services and other: 50.2% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 14.8%
Share of women in the labour force: 55.1%
Share of men in the labour force: 66.4%

RWANDA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Democratic Republic of the Congo 38% | United Arab Emirates 29.2% | China 4.8%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 21% | Tanzania 11.1% | Kenya 9.3%
Exports value: $1.6 billion | 0.3% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $5 billion | 0.7% of Africa’s imports

RWANDA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 57.7% (2017) | Africa rank: 13rd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.578 | Africa rank: 26th out of 54 | Global rank: 159th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.399 | Africa rank: 18th out of 51 | Global rank: 132nd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.394 | Africa rank: 6th out of 49 | Global rank: 100th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 36% | Africa rank: 12nd out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 40% | Public opinion: 32%
Urbanisation: 17.3% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 4% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 61.2% of seats
Internet access: 34.4% of inhabitants use the internet

RWANDA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 11.2% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 1.5 million tonnes | 0.1% of African total | 0.005% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.1 tonnes | 0.1 x African average | 0.02 x world average

RWANDA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Kinyarwanda, English, French, Swahili
Colonised by: Germany 1884-1916 | Belgium 1916-1962
Independence: 1962 – from Belgium
World Heritage Sites: Nyamata, Murambi, Bisesero and Gisozi, memorial sites of the 1994 Genocide.

São Tomé and Príncipe

Unnamed craftsmen in their workshop on São Tomé. São Tomé is the larger, southern island in the country of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Photo credit Kris Haamer

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRINCIPE: OVERVIEW
Region: Middle Africa
Population: 236,000 | 0.02% of Africa’s population
Population density: 245.4 people per square kilometre | 4.8 x African average
Surface area: 964 square kilometres | 0.003% of Africa
Capital city: São Tomé

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRINCIPE: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: dobra (STN)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $547 million | 0.02% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $2,404.60 | 1.2 x African average
Agriculture: 13.2% of economy
Industry: 13.7% of economy
Services and other: 73.2% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 14.2%
Share of women in the labour force: 37.8%
Share of men in the labour force: 70.4%

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRINCIPE: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Netherlands 60.3% | Belgium 20.7% | Portugal 4.7%
Major import partners (share of imports): Portugal 36.2% | Togo 15.6% | Angola 13.7%
Exports value: $17 million | 0.003% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $184 million | 0.03% of Africa’s imports

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRINCIPE: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 55% (2017) | Africa rank: 21st out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.637 | Africa rank: 16th out of 54 | Global rank: 141st out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.478 | Africa rank: 9th out of 51 | Global rank: 116th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.492 | Africa rank: 16th out of 49 | Global rank: 130th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 47% | Africa rank: 7th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 49% | Public opinion: 44%
Urbanisation: 73.6% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 5.3% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 14.6% of seats
Internet access: 57% of inhabitants use the internet

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRINCIPE: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 53.4% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 0.1 million tonnes | 0.008% of African total | 0.0003% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.7 tonnes | 0.8 x African average | 0.2 x world average

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Portuguese
Other languages: Forro, Angolar, Principense
Colonised by: Portugal 1522-1975
Independence: 1975 – from Portugal

Senegal

Western Dakar, the capital of Senegal, in an image captured by the Sentinel 2A satellite on 10 October 2016 and processed by @anttilip. This arrow-shaped peninsula is the westernmost point of the African continent.
Photo credit Antti Lipponen

SENEGAL: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 18.5 million | 1.2% of Africa’s population
Population density: 96.1 people per square kilometre | 1.9 x African average
Surface area: 196,712 square kilometres | 0.7% of Africa
Capital city: Dakar

SENEGAL: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: CFA franc, Central Bank of West African States (XOF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $27.8 billion | 1% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,604.00 | 0.8 x African average
Agriculture: 18.2% of economy
Industry: 25.3% of economy
Services and other: 56.5% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 2.9%
Share of women in the labour force: 37.5%
Share of men in the labour force: 63.6%

SENEGAL: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Mali 19.9% | India 15.2% | Switzerland 11.6%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 10% | France 9.2% | India 7.5%
Exports value: $4.8 billion | 0.8% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $10.3 billion | 1.5% of Africa’s imports

SENEGAL: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 51.3% (2022) | Africa rank: 35th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.53 | Africa rank: 32nd out of 54 | Global rank: 169th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.34 | Africa rank: 33rd out of 51 | Global rank: 148th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.49 | Africa rank: 14th out of 49 | Global rank: 127th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 4% | Africa rank: 52nd out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 5% | Public opinion: 3%
Urbanisation: 47.7% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 5.6% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 46.1% of seats
Internet access: 60% of inhabitants use the internet

SENEGAL: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 41.7% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 9.6 million tonnes | 0.7% of African total | 0.03% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.6 tonnes | 0.7 x African average | 0.1 x world average

SENEGAL: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: French
Other languages: Balanta-Ganja, Hassaniya Arabic, Jola-Fonyi, Mandinka, Mandjak, Mankanya, Noon, Pulaar, Serer Soninke, Wolof
Colonised by: France 1783-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: The island of Gorée was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast between the 15th and 19th centuries.

Seychelles

View from an airplane of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
Photo credit Olivier Roux

SEYCHELLES: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 130,000 | 0.009% of Africa’s population
Population density: 285.4 people per square kilometre | 5.6 x African average
Surface area: 457 square kilometres | 0.002% of Africa
Capital city: Victoria

SEYCHELLES: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: High income
Currency: Seychelles rupee (SCR)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $2 billion | 0.07% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $18,622.90 | 9.2 x African average
Agriculture: 2.6% of economy
Industry: 14% of economy
Services and other: 83.4% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 4.1%
Share of women in the labour force: 61.9%
Share of men in the labour force: 68.3%

SEYCHELLES: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): France 26.4% | United Arab Emirates 24.7% | United Kingdom 13.7%
Major import partners (share of imports): Italy 25.5% | United Arab Emirates 18.4% | Netherlands 11.5%
Exports value: $619 million | 0.1% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $2.9 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s imports

SEYCHELLES: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 32.1% (2019) | Africa rank: 52nd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Very High | Score 0.848 | Africa rank: 1st out of 54 | Global rank: 54th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.755 | Africa rank: 1st out of 51 | Global rank: 49th out of 169
LGBT equality index: 61% | Africa rank: 3rd out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 55% | Public opinion: 66%
Urbanisation: 57.1% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 5.5% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 20.6% of seats
Internet access: 86.7% of inhabitants use the internet

SEYCHELLES: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 73.3% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 0.6 million tonnes | 0.05% of African total | 0.002% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 5.9 tonnes | 6.6 x African average | 1.4 x world average

SEYCHELLES: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: English, French, Seychellois Creole
Colonised by: France 1756-1794 | Britain 1794-1976
Independence: 1976 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: Aldabra Atoll, four coral islands enclosing a lagoon and surrounded by a coral reef. Protected from human intrusion, the atoll is a safe haven for some 152,000 giant tortoises, the world’s largest population of the reptile.

Sierra Leone

The Old Cotton Tree in the oldest part of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, with the country’s Supreme Court building to the left. The massive tree, thought to be about 500 years old, is a historic symbol of the city. On 11 March 1792 some 400 African slaves, liberated for fighting for the British in the American War of Independence, landed on the shore of modern Freetown. They walked up to the great tree above the bay and there held a service of thanksgiving for their freedom.
Photo credit bobthemagicdragon

SIERRA LEONE: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 8.6 million | 0.6% of Africa’s population
Population density: 120.5 people per square kilometre | 2.3 x African average
Surface area: 72,300 square kilometres | 0.2% of Africa
Capital city: Freetown

SIERRA LEONE: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: leone (SLL)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $3.5 billion | 0.1% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $404.50 | 0.2 x African average
Agriculture: 60% of economy
Industry: 6.8% of economy
Services and other: 33.1% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 3.2%
Share of women in the labour force: 51.4%
Share of men in the labour force: 56.2%

SIERRA LEONE: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 67.7% | United Arab Emirates 5% | Belgium 4.8%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 34% | India 10.5% | United States 5.8%
Exports value: $521 million | 0.09% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $2 billion | 0.3% of Africa’s imports

SIERRA LEONE: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 51.1% (2018) | Africa rank: 36th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.467 | Africa rank: 46th out of 54 | Global rank: 185th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.281 | Africa rank: 44th out of 51 | Global rank: 162nd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.566 | Africa rank: 33rd out of 49 | Global rank: 152nd out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 14% | Africa rank: 30th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 22% | Public opinion: 6%
Urbanisation: 42.5% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.3% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 29.5% of seats
Internet access: 30.4% of inhabitants use the internet

SIERRA LEONE: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 34.8% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 1.3 million tonnes | 0.1% of African total | 0.004% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.2 tonnes | 0.2 x African average | 0.05 x world average

SIERRA LEONE: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: English
Other languages: Temne, Mende, Krio (Sierra Leonean Creole)
Colonised by: Britain 1792-1961
Independence: 1961 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: Bunce Island on the Sierra Leone River was established as a slave trading station in 1670. From here British traders shipped tens of thousands of African slaves to the Americas.

Somalia

Women selling tea in Buur-Hakba, a city in southwestern Somalia some 180 kilometres inland from the coastal capital of Mogadishu.
Photo credit Stuart Price, UN Photo

SOMALIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 19 million | 1.3% of Africa’s population
Population density: 30.3 people per square kilometre | 0.6 x African average
Surface area: 637,657 square kilometres | 2.2% of Africa
Capital city: Mogadishu

SOMALIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: Somali shilling (SOS)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $10.4 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $592.10 | 0.3 x African average
Agriculture: 60.2% of economy
Industry: 7.4% of economy
Services and other: 32.5% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 19.1%
Share of women in the labour force: 21.2%
Share of men in the labour force: 47.3%

SOMALIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): United Arab Emirates 44. 3% | Oman 33.4% | Saudi Arabia 8.4%
Major import partners (share of imports): United Arab Emirates 33. 7% | China 19.1% | India 16.1%
Exports value: $833 million | 0.1% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $4 billion | 0.6% of Africa’s imports

SOMALIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 55% (2016) | Africa rank: 22nd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.404 | Africa rank: 53rd out of 54 | Global rank: 192nd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.229 | Africa rank: 50th out of 51 | Global rank: 168th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.675 | Africa rank: 48th out of 49 | Global rank: 170th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 1% | Africa rank: 54th out of 54
Urbanisation: 45.6% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 0% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 19.6% of seats
Internet access: 27.6% of inhabitants use the internet

COUNTRY: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 9.4% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 0.6 million tonnes | 0.05% of African total | 0.002% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.3 tonnes | 0.3 x African average | 0.007 x world average

SOMALIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Somali, Arabic
Colonised by: Britain 1884-1960 | Italy 1889-1941 | UN trust territory 1946-1960
Independence: 1960 – from Britain and UN

South Africa

Canola fields and the South African town of Clanwilliam in the Olifants River valley region of the Cederberg. Cape Town’s Table Mountain can be seen in the distance, 200 kilometres to the south.
Photo credit Damien du Toit

SOUTH AFRICA: OVERVIEW
Region: Southern Africa
Population: 64 million | 4.2% of Africa’s population
Population density: 52.4 people per square kilometre | 1 x African average
Surface area: 1,221,037 square kilometres | 4.1% of Africa
Capital city: Pretoria

SOUTH AFRICA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Upper middle income
Currency: rand (ZAR)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $405.3 billion | 14.1% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $6,766.50 | 3.4 x African average
Agriculture: 3.2% of economy
Industry: 27.5% of economy
Services and other: 69.4% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 28.6%
Share of women in the labour force: 52.2%
Share of men in the labour force: 64.1%

SOUTH AFRICA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 11.3% | United States 7.5% | Germany 6.8%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 20.5% | United States 8.6% | Germany 8.1%
Exports value: $110.6 billion | 19% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $107.1 billion | 15.6% of Africa’s imports

SOUTH AFRICA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 67% (2017) | Africa rank: 1st out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: High | Score 0.741 | Africa rank: 6th out of 54 | Global rank: 106th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.476 | Africa rank: 11th out of 51 | Global rank: 119th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.388 | Africa rank: 5th out of 49 | Global rank: 95th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 67% | Africa rank: 2nd out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 77% | Public opinion: 58%
Urbanisation: 66.9% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 6.6% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 46% of seats
Internet access: 74.7% of inhabitants use the internet

SOUTH AFRICA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 14% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 434.2 million tonnes | 33.4% of African total | 1.3% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 7.3 tonnes | 8.1 x African average | 1.7 x world average

SOUTH AFRICA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho sa Leboa, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga
Colonised by: Netherlands 1562-1795 | Britain 1795-1961 | internal white minority 1961-1994
Independence: 1961 – from Britain | 1994 – first democratic elections
World Heritage Sites: South Africa has nine Unesco World Heritage Sites. Five are cultural, three natural, and one of mixed cultural and natural heritage. The five cultural sites are the ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape, the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape, Robben Island, and the country’s rich fossil hominid sites. The three natural sites are the Cape Floral Region, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the ancient Vredefort Dome meteor impact site. Finally, the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Mountains are valued for both their natural beauty and the rich cultural heritage of San Bushman paintings found in their caves and rock shelters.

South Sudan

The Kush Dance Group performs at the Comedy for Peace event at the Nyakuron Cultural Centre in Juba on 23 April 2017. The event featured the best of South Sudanese comedians and musicians, including Emmanuel Kembe, Woklii, Feel Free, Lotole Captain Eddy and Kon Kuol Kon.
Photo credit Amanda Voisard, UN Photo

SOUTH SUDAN: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 11.9 million | 0.8% of Africa’s population
Population density: 21.2 people per square kilometre | 0.4 x African average
Surface area*: 646,883 square kilometres | 2.2% of Africa
Capital city: Juba

SOUTH SUDAN: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: South Sudanese pound (SSP)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $4.6 billion | 0.2% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $423.00 | 0.2 x African average
Agriculture: 2.8% of economy
Industry: 62.5% of economy
Services and other: 34.7% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 11.8%
Share of women in the labour force: 70.4%
Share of men in the labour force: 71.2%

SOUTH SUDAN: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): China 66.8% | Singapore 11.3% | United Arab Emirates 10%
Major import partners (share of imports): Uganda 40.5% | United Arab Emirates 20.5% | Kenya 12.2%
Exports value: $631 million | 0.1% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $1.3 billion | 0.2% of Africa’s imports

SOUTH SUDAN: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 58% (2017) | Africa rank: 12nd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.388 | Africa rank: 54th out of 54 | Global rank: 193rd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.226 | Africa rank: 51st out of 51 | Global rank: 169th out of 169
LGBT equality index: 8% | Africa rank: 46th out of 54
Urbanisation: 19.9% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 1.6% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 32.4% of seats
Internet access: 12.1% of inhabitants use the internet

SOUTH SUDAN: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 11.3% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 1.8 million tonnes | 0.1% of African total | 0.005% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.2 tonnes | 0.2 x African average | 0.05 x world average

SOUTH SUDAN: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: English
Other languages: Bari, Dinka, Luo, Murle, Nuer, Zande and some 60 others
Colonised by: Britain 1889-1956 | Sudan 1956-2011
Independence: 1956 – from Britain | 2011 – from Sudan

Sudan

The pyramids of Kushite rulers at Meroë, an ancient city on the banks of the Nile River in eastern Sudan. Meroë was the capital of the Kingdom of Kush, one of the earliest and largest states in precolonial sub-Saharan Africa, which flourished from around 1,000 BCE to 350 CE.
Photo credit Valerian Guillot

SUDAN: OVERVIEW
Region: Northern Africa
Population: 50.4 million | 3.3% of Africa’s population
Population density: 28.6 people per square kilometre | 0.6 x African average
Capital city: Khartoum

SUDAN: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: Sudanese pound (SDG)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $36.7 billion | 1.3% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $783.60 | 0.4 x African average
Agriculture: 20.1% of economy
Industry: 21.7% of economy
Services and other: 58.1% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 20.8%
Share of women in the labour force: 28%
Share of men in the labour force: 67.6%

SUDAN: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): United Arab Emirates 43. 6% | China 13.9% | Malaysia 7.4%
Major import partners (share of imports): United Arab Emirates 19. 3% | India 17.7% | Saudi Arabia 15%
Exports value: $11.7 billion | 2% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $5.8 billion | 0.8% of Africa’s imports

SUDAN: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 53.8% (2014) | Africa rank: 27th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Low | Score 0.511 | Africa rank: 39th out of 54 | Global rank: 176th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.328 | Africa rank: 36th out of 51 | Global rank: 152nd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.588 | Africa rank: 38th out of 49 | Global rank: 158th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 14% | Africa rank: 30th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 9% | Public opinion: 19%
Urbanisation: 34.9% of inhabitants live in cities
:% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 27.7% of seats
Internet access: 28.7% of inhabitants use the internet

SUDAN: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 9.7% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 20.6 million tonnes | 1.6% of African total | 0.06% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.4 tonnes | 0.4 x African average | 0.1 x world average

SUDAN: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Arabic, English
Colonised by: Egypt 1820-1885 | Britain 1899-1956
Independence: 1956 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: The archaeological sites of Gebel Barkal and the Napatan region in the Nile valley, testimony to the Napatan (900 to 270 BC) and Meroitic (270 BC to 350 AD) cultures of the second kingdom of Kush.

Tanzania

The waterfront skyline of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city. With 4.4-million people, Dar is the biggest city in East Africa and home to the largest Swahili-speaking population in the world. It was founded in 1865 by Sultan Majid bin Said of Zanzibar, who gave the city its name. Dar es Salaam means “place of peace” in Arabic.
Photo credit David Stanley

TANZANIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 68.6 million | 4.5% of Africa’s population
Population density: 77.4 people per square kilometre | 1.5 x African average
Surface area: 947,303 square kilometres | 3.2% of Africa
Capital city: Dodoma

TANZANIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $73.5 billion | 2.6% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,153.80 | 0.6 x African average
Agriculture: 28.4% of economy
Industry: 33.5% of economy
Services and other: 38.2% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 2.5%
Share of women in the labour force: 77.2%
Share of men in the labour force: 86%

TANZANIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): India 21.4% | South Africa 15.4% | United Arab Emirates 9.4%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 27.5% | India 12.9% | United Arab Emirates 9.4%
Exports value: $7.3 billion | 1.2% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $15.1 billion | 2.2% of Africa’s imports

TANZANIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 54.8% (2018) | Africa rank: 23rd out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.555 | Africa rank: 30th out of 54 | Global rank: 165th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.391 | Africa rank: 20th out of 51 | Global rank: 134th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.504 | Africa rank: 20th out of 49 | Global rank: 134th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 14% | Africa rank: 30th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 13% | Public opinion: 14%
Urbanisation: 34.5% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.4% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 37.4% of seats
Internet access: 31.9% of inhabitants use the internet

TANZANIA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 51.1% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 15.9 million tonnes | 1.2% of African total | 0.05% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.2 tonnes | 0.2 x African average | 0.05 x world average

TANZANIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Languages: Swahili, English
Colonised by: Germany 1885-1919 | Britain 1920-1963
Independence: Tanganyika 1961 – from Britain | Zanzibar and Pemba 1963 – from Britain | Union 1964
World Heritage Site: Kilimanjaro National Park

Togo

An African Cup of Nations qualifier football match between Togo and Gabon at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, the Togolese capital, on 14 October 2012. Togo won by two goals to one.
Photo credit Panoramas

TOGO: OVERVIEW
Region: Western Africa
Population: 9.5 million | 0.6% of Africa’s population
Population density: 174.9 people per square kilometre | 3.4 x African average
Surface area: 56,785 square kilometres | 0.2% of Africa
Capital city: Lomé

TOGO: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: CFA franc, Central Bank of West African States (XOF)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $8.1 billion | 0.3% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $913.90 | 0.5 x African average
Agriculture: 20.6% of economy
Industry: 22.6% of economy
Services and other: 56.7% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 3.7%
Share of women in the labour force: 56.2%
Share of men in the labour force: 59.7%

TOGO: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): India 22.5% | Burkina Faso 9.2% | Benin 8.4%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 19% | France 9% | India 7.9%
Exports value: $1.5 billion | 0.3% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $3.0 billion | 0.4% of Africa’s imports

TOGO: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 52.9% (2022) | Africa rank: 31st out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.571 | Africa rank: 27th out of 54 | Global rank: 161st out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.363 | Africa rank: 24th out of 51 | Global rank: 139th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.564 | Africa rank: 31st out of 49 | Global rank: 150th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 9% | Africa rank: 44th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 6% | Public opinion: 12%
Urbanisation: 42.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 4.2% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 18.9% of seats
Internet access: 37.6% of inhabitants use the internet

TOGO: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 22.2% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 1.8 million tonnes | 0.1% of African total | 0.005% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.2 tonnes | 0.2 x African average | 0.05 x world average

TOGO: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: French
Other languages: Ewe, Kabiyé, Gbe languages, Kotocoli
Colonised by: Germany 1884-1916 | France 1916-1960
Independence: 1960 – from France
World Heritage Site: Koutammakou, the land of the Batammariba people, whose remarkable mud tower-houses (takienta) have become a symbol of Togo.

Tunisia

The Demna Baptistry, from the sixth century CE. This large Christian baptismal font was designed to allow the whole body of the baptised person to be submerged in water. Discovered in Demna, Jbal Lahmar, near Tunis in Tunisia, it is one of the finest early Christian mosaics found in Africa and in the whole of the ancient Roman world.
Photo credit Dennis Jarvis

TUNISIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Northern Africa
Population: 12.3 million | 0.8% of Africa’s population
Population density: 79 people per square kilometre | 1.5 x African average
Surface area: 163,610 square kilometres | 0.6% of Africa
Capital city: Tunis

TUNISIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Tunisian dinar (TND)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $46.2 billion | 1.6% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $3,737.50 | 1.9 x African average
Agriculture: 10.5% of economy
Industry: 24.8% of economy
Services and other: 64.7% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 17.7%
Share of women in the labour force: 26.9%
Share of men in the labour force: 68.9%

TUNISIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): France 22.3%, Italy 16.8%, Germany 12.9%
Major import partners (share of imports): Italy 14.6%, China 10.5%, France 10.4%
Exports value: $20.3 billion | 3.5% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $25.9 billion | 3.8% of Africa’s imports

TUNISIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 40.9% (2022) | Africa rank: 48th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: High | Score 0.746 | Africa rank: 5th out of 54 | Global rank: 105th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.595 | Africa rank: 4th out of 51 | Global rank: 93rd out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.238 | Africa rank: 1st out of 49 | Global rank: 62nd out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 14% | Africa rank: 30th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 13% | Public opinion: 15%
Women in national parliament hold 15.7% of seats
Urbanisation: 69.3% of inhabitants live in cities (2020)
Government spending on education: 6.2 % of GDP (2015)
Internet access: 73.8% of inhabitants use the internet

TUNISIA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 4.5% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 26.9 million tonnes | 2.1% of African total | 0.08% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 2.2 tonnes | 2.4 x African average | 0.5 x world average

TUNISIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Arabic
Other languages: Berber, French
Colonised by: France 1881-1956
Independence: 1956 – from France
World Heritage Site: The Amphitheatre of El Jem, built during the third century.

Uganda

The fields of small-scale farmers blanket hillsides in Kikungiri near the town of Kabale in southeastern Uganda.
Photo credit Rod Waddington

UGANDA: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 50 million | 3.3% of Africa’s population
Population density: 250.3 people per square kilometre | 4.9 x African average
Surface area: 241,550 square kilometres | 0.8% of Africa
Capital city: Kampala

UGANDA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Low income
Currency: Uganda shilling (UGX)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $48.2 billion | 1.7% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,021.00 | 0.5 x African average
Agriculture: 27.1% of economy
Industry: 28.2% of economy
Services and other: 44.7% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 2.8%
Share of women in the labour force: 67.6%
Share of men in the labour force: 72.3%

UGANDA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): United Arab Emirates 26.8% | Kenya 13.3% | South Sudan 12.2%
Major import partners (share of imports): China 18.2% | India 11.6% | Tanzania 9%
Exports value: $5.6 billion | 1% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $12.6 billion | 1.8% of Africa’s imports

UGANDA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 56.8% (2020) | Africa rank: 17th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.582 | Africa rank: 24th out of 54 | Global rank: 157th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.4 | Africa rank: 17th out of 51 | Global rank: 131st out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.524 | Africa rank: 25th out of 49 | Global rank: 141st out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 9% | Africa rank: 44th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 1% | Public opinion: 18%
Urbanisation: 24.4% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.6% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 33.9% of seats
Internet access: 10% of inhabitants use the internet

UGANDA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 11.5% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 5.7 million tonnes | 0.4% of African total | 0.02% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.1 tonnes | 0.1 x African average | 0.02 x world average

UGANDA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: English and Swahili
Other languages: Around 40 other languages
Colonised by: Britain 1894-1962
Independence: 1962 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi, the former palace of the Kabakas of Buganda, built in 1882 and converted into a royal burial ground in 1884.

WESTERN SAHARA: OVERVIEW
Region: Northern Africa
Population: 590,000 | 0.04% of Africa’s population
Population density: 2.2 people per square kilometre | 0.04 x African average
Surface area: 266,000 square kilometres | 0.9% of Africa
Capital city: El Aaiún

WESTERN SAHARA: ECONOMY
Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Labour force unemployment rate: 8.1%
Share of women in the labour force: 31%
Share of men in the labour force: 79.5%

WESTERN SAHARA: INDICATORS & ENVIRONMENT
Urbanisation: 86.8% of inhabitants live in cities
Forests: 2.5% of land area

WESTERN SAHARA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic, Berber, Spanish
Colonised by: Spain 1884-1975 | Morocco 1975-present

Zambia

An aerial view of the massive Zambezi River – which gives Zambia its name – and the Victoria Falls. The waterfall, named Mosi-oa-Tunya or “the smoke that thunders” in Tokaleya Tonga, is said to be the biggest in the world. Its combined width of 1,708 metres and height of 108 metres result in the world’s largest sheet of falling water. Here Zambia’s border with Zimbabwe runs along the middle of the river, with Zimbabwe on the left and Zambia on the right. The steel Victoria Falls bridge at lower left is a border post between the countries.
Photo credit Dsopfe

ZAMBIA: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 21.3 million | 1.4% of Africa’s population
Population density: 28.7 people per square kilometre | 0.6 x African average
Surface area: 752,612 square kilometres | 2.5% of Africa
Capital city: Lusaka

ZAMBIA: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Zambian kwacha (ZMW)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $29.1 billion | 1% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,455.50 | 0.7 x African average
Agriculture: 3.3% of economy
Industry: 37.6% of economy
Services and other: 59.1% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 4.2%
Share of women in the labour force: 52.1%
Share of men in the labour force: 67.2%

ZAMBIA: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): Switzerland 41.4% | China 17.7% | Democratic Republic of the Congo 15.4%
Major import partners (share of imports): South Africa 25.8% | China 16.2% | United Arab Emirates 8.2%
Exports value: $10.4 billion | 1.8% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $10.1 billion | 1.5% of Africa’s imports

ZAMBIA: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 63.1% (2022) | Africa rank: 4th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.595 | Africa rank: 22nd out of 54 | Global rank: 154th out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.361 | Africa rank: 25th out of 51 | Global rank: 140th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.524 | Africa rank: 25th out of 49 | Global rank: 141st out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 8% | Africa rank: 46th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 9% | Public opinion: 8%
Urbanisation: 44.1% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 3.9% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 15% of seats
Internet access: 31.2% of inhabitants use the internet

ZAMBIA: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 60% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 7 million tonnes | 0.5% of African total | 0.02% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.4 tonnes | 0.4 x African average | 0.1 x world average

ZAMBIA: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official language: English
Other languages: Nyanja, Bemba, Chewa, Lozi, Kaonde, Lunda, Tonga, Luvale and around 60 others
Colonised by: Britain
Independence: 1964 – from Britain
World Heritage Site: The Victoria Falls – Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders” – is the world’s largest sheet of falling water, significant for the beauty of its spray, mist and permanent rainbows.

Zimbabwe

Inside the citadel of Great Zimbabwe, the ancient Shona city in the southeastern province of Masvingo. The 722-hectare city was the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Zimbabwe, which flourished for over two centuries from 1220 to 1450.
Photo credit Amanda Anderson

ZIMBABWE: OVERVIEW
Region: Eastern Africa
Population: 16.6 million | 1.1% of Africa’s population
Population density: 43 people per square kilometre | 0.8 x African average
Surface area: 390,757 square kilometres | 1.3% of Africa
Capital city: Harare

ZIMBABWE: ECONOMY
World Bank classification: Lower middle income
Currency: Zimbabwe dollar (ZWL)
Gross domestic product (GDP): $26.4 billion | 0.9% of Africa’s GDP
Average GDP per person: $1,618.70 | 0.8 x African average
Agriculture: 8.1% of economy
Industry: 44.9% of economy
Services and other: 47% of economy
Labour force unemployment rate: 9%
Share of women in the labour force: 60.6%
Share of men in the labour force: 72.5%

ZIMBABWE: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Major export partners (share of exports): South Africa 30.9% | United Arab Emirates 26.4% | China 17.7%
Major import partners (share of imports): South Africa 38% | China 14.9% | Bahamas 5.1%
Exports value: $7.2 billion | 1.2% of Africa’s exports
Imports value: $9.2 billion | 1.3% of Africa’s imports

ZIMBABWE: INDICATORS
Income inequality – Gini index: 62.8% (2019) | Africa rank: 6th out of 54 (higher score & rank = more inequality)
Human development index: Medium | Score 0.598 | Africa rank: 21st out of 54 | Global rank: 153rd out of 193
Inequality-adjusted human development index: Score 0.406 | Africa rank: 16th out of 51 | Global rank: 130th out of 169
Gender inequality index: Score 0.519 | Africa rank: 24th out of 49 | Global rank: 140th out of 172 (higher score = less equality; higher rank = more equality)
LGBT equality index: 13% | Africa rank: 35th out of 54 | Legal freedoms: 16% | Public opinion: 10%
Urbanisation: 32.2% of inhabitants live in cities
Government spending on education: 2.1% of GDP
Women in national parliament hold 28.8% of seats
Internet access: 32.6% of inhabitants use the internet

ZIMBABWE: ENVIRONMENT
Forests: 45% of land area
Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions: 9.7 million tonnes | 0.7% of African total | 0.03% of world total
CO₂ emissions per person: 0.6 tonnes | 0.7 x African average | 0.1 x world average

ZIMBABWE: HISTORY & HERITAGE
Official languages: Chishona, isiNdebele, English and 13 others
Colonised by: Britain 1888-1964 | internal (white minority) 1964-1980
Independence: 1965 – from Britain (declared) | 1980 – first democratic elections
World Heritage Site: The ruins of Great Zimbabwe are a unique testimony to the Bantu civilization of the Shona between the 11th and 15th centuries.

Sources & notes

ALL SOURCES

Unless otherwise stated, information sourced from the World Statistics Pocketbook 2024, UN Statistics Division.

Other sources:

• FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
• Observatory of Economic Complexity
• International Trade Centre – Trade Map
• Human Development Report 2025, UN Development Programme
• Unesco World Heritage Centre
• CIA World Fact Book
• Wikimedia Commons
• Flickr Creative Commons

MAPS & PHOTOS

• Africa maps adapted from maps by Alvaro1984 18, Wikimedia Commons
• Country maps adapted from maps by ReliefWeb, a service provided by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
• Photos: See credit in captions.

ECONOMY

• World Bank income classification 2024: explanation
• World Bank income classification 2024: data

INDICATORS

• Income inequality – Gini index: explanation
• Income inequality – Gini index: UNU WIDER World Income Inequality Database
• Human development index, UNDP World Development Report 2025
• Inequality-adjusted human development index, UNDP World Development Report 2025
• Gender inequality index, UNDP World Development Report 2025
• Equaldex LGBT equality index in Africa

ENVIRONMENT

• Forests & CO₂ emissions: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN

HISTORY & HERITAGE

• Languages: CIA World Fact Book
• World Heritage Site: Unesco World Heritage Centre

Researched, written and designed by Mary Alexander.
Updated 16 September 2025.
Comments? Email mary1alexander@gmail.com

The post Africa from A to Z: fast facts on the 55 states appeared first on South Africa Gateway.

Kids at a community meeting in Elsies River, Cape Town. South Africa’s Bill of Rights includes a section dedicated to the specific rights of children. (Image: GCIS)

South Africa’s Bill of Rights, chapter 2 of the constitution, is one of the most progressive in the world. It protects the human rights of everyone in the country – citizen, visitor, refugee or migrant.

Its preamble reads:

This Bill of Rights is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.

The bill was adopted in 1996, just two years after the first democratic elections that finally ended formal apartheid. All laws and organs of state must respect the Bill of Rights. The state must protect and promote the rights it sets out, and make sure they are fulfilled.

But do you really know your rights? Our no-nonsense guide will help you understand your rights, and the rights of everyone else.

You can also read the full text of the Bill of Rights in 11 of South Africa’s official languages.

Jump to your rights:

Equality

Everyone is equal.

You have the right to the same protection by the law as everyone else.

Nobody is allowed to unfairly discriminate against you because of your race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language or birth.

Human dignity

You have inherent dignity.

You have the right to have your dignity respected and protected.

Life

You have the right to life.

Freedom and security of the person

You have the right to freedom.

You have the right not to be deprived of your freedom for no reason, or for an unjust reason.

You have the right not to be put into jail without a trial.

You have the right not to be a victim of violence, whether it’s violence done by other people, or by the state.

You have the right not to be tortured.

You have the right not to treated in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way.

You have the right to control your own body.

You have the right to make your own decisions about pregnancy, childbirth and whether or not you want to have children.

Slavery, servitude and forced labour

Nobody is allowed to enslave you, make you work for no pay, or force you to work.

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Privacy

You have the right to your privacy.

Nobody is allowed to search you or your home, take your belongings, or monitor your private conversations, texts, phone calls or emails.

Freedom of religion, belief and opinion

You have the right to practise any religion you want. Nobody may force you to follow a religion.

You have the right to your own opinions and beliefs.

Freedom of expression

You have the right to express yourself freely, to say what you want to say.

You have the right to get information from a free and open media.

You have the right to be told new information and ideas, and to tell other people new information and ideas.

You have the right to create any art you want.

You have the right to learn and research whatever you want.

But you can’t abuse your freedom of expression to encourage war or other violence, or promote hatred for other people because of their race, ethnicity, gender or religion.

Assembly, demonstration, picket and petition

You have the right to come together with other people to demonstrate, picket or present petitions – as long as you do it peacefully, and don’t carry weapons.

Freedom of association

You have the right to spend time with anyone you choose.

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Political rights

You have the right to make your own political choices.

You have the right to take part in the activities of any political party, and recruit members for that party.

You have the right to campaign for any political party.

If you are a citizen, you have the right to free, fair and regular elections.

If you are an adult citizen, you have the right to vote in elections for the political party of your choice – and to keep your vote secret. You also have the right to stand for public office and, if elected, to hold that office.

Citizenship

If you are a citizen of South Africa, no-one can take that citizenship away from you.

Freedom of movement and residence

You have the right to freedom of movement – to travel anywhere in South Africa.

You have the right to leave South Africa.

You have the right to live anywhere in South Africa.

If you are a citizen, you have the right to a passport.

Freedom of trade, occupation and profession

You have the right to choose your own trade, job or profession.

Labour relations

You have the right to fair labour practices at work.

Workers have the right to form and join a trade union.

Employers have the right to form and join an employers’ organisation.

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Environment

You have the right to live in an environment that does not harm your health or wellbeing.

You have the right to have the environment protected now, and for future generations.

Property

No-one may take your property away from you.

The state may only take your property for specific reasons – for a public purpose or in the public interest. If it does have to take your property, it has to pay you the right price for it.

Housing

You have the right to proper housing.

The state must work to make sure you have housing.

You have the right not to be evicted from your home, or have your home torn down, without a court ordering it.

Healthcare, food, water and social security

You have the right to basic healthcare. This includes the right to reproductive health care – for contraception, pregnancy and childbirth.

You have the right to the food and water you need.

You have the right to emergency medical treatment. If your life is in danger, no hospital or healthcare worker may refuse to treat you.

If you can’t afford to support yourself or your family, the state must help you.

Children

Every child – anyone under 18– has the right to a name and nationality from birth.

Children have the right to be cared for by their parents or family, or to get proper foster care if needed.

They have the right to basic food, shelter, healthcare and social support.

Children must be protected from abuse and neglect.

They also have the right to be protected from work that is harmful or takes advantage of them.

Find out more about children’s rights.

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Education

You have the right to basic education, whether you are a child or an adult.

You have the right to further education.

In public schools, universities and colleges, you have the right to be educated in the official South African language of your choice – where this is possible.

Language and culture

You have the right to use whatever language you want, and take part in any cultural life – as long as this doesn’t infringe on the rights of others.

Cultural, religious and linguistic communities

You have the right to enjoy your culture, practise your religion and use your language.

You may also form, join and maintain cultural, religious and language organisations.

But you can’t exercise these rights in a way that infringes on the rights of others.

Access to information

You have the right to access any information held by the state.

You have the right to get any information held by someone else if you need it to protect or exercise your rights.

Just administrative action

You have the right to fair, legal and reasonable decisions by government or public officials.

If a decision harms your rights, you must be given written reasons.

The law must allow you to challenge unfair decisions in court or through an independent body. It must also make sure the government respects your rights and that public services run efficiently.

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Access to courts

You have the right to have any legal dispute settled in a fair public hearing by a court or by another independent and unbiased body.

Arrested, detained and accused people

If the police arrest you, you have the right to remain silent. They must tell you this right as soon as possible, and explain what could happen if you do speak.

You have the right to speak to a lawyer.

No-one can force you to say anything that could be used against you in court.

You must be brought to court as soon as possible – within 48 hours, or by the end of the first court day after 48 hours.

At your first court appearance, the court must either charge you with a crime or explain why you are being kept in jail. Otherwise, you must be released.

Limitation of rights

Some of your rights are limited if exercising those rights would infringe on the rights of others. Rights may also be limited under strict conditions such as a state of emergency.

These limitations may only be set out in laws that apply to everyone, and only if the limitation is reasonable and can be justified in a democratic society. The importance of the right must be examined, as must the purpose of the limitation and whether there are less restrictive ways to achieve the purpose.

Rights can never be limited without good reason. And some core rights – non-derogable rights – may never be limited, even under a state of emergency.

The non-derogable rights are:

• Equality
• Human dignity
• Life
• Freedom from torture and cruel treatment
• Freedom from slavery and forced labour
• Children’s rights
• The rights of arrested, detained and accused people

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The text in all languages

Read the full text of the Bill of Rights (PDF) in 11 of South Africa’s official languages:

Afrikaans | English | isiNdebele | isiXhosa | isiZulu | Sepedi | Sesotho | Setswana | siSwati | Tshivenda | Xitsonga

Constitutional and statutory bodies

Constitutional Court of South Africa – The highest court in South Africa on constitutional matters. It interprets, protects and enforces the constitution.

South African Human Rights Commission – Independent state institution established by the constitution to promote, monitor and assess observance of human rights.

Public interest law centres and legal advocacy organisations

Legal Resources Centre – Nonprofit public interest law centre that provides legal services to poor and marginalised communities.

Section27 – Public interest legal organisation focusing on access to healthcare services and basic education.

Lawyers for Human Rights – Nongovernmental organisation offering legal services and advocacy, including refugee and migrant rights programmes.

Centre for Applied Legal Studies at Wits University – Human rights law clinic engaged in legal research, strategic litigation and advocacy.

Academic and research-based human rights centres

Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria – Academic department and advocacy centre working to promote human rights through education, research and litigation.

African Centre for Migration & Society at Wits University – Research institute focused on human mobility, migration and related policy issues in the Southern African region.

Social justice and community advocacy organisations

Black Sash – Nongovernmental organisation promoting social justice and access to social protection in South Africa.

Equal Education – Movement advocating for equality and quality in public education, involving learners, parents and community members.

Sonke Gender Justice – Civil society organisation that supports gender equality and works to prevent gender-based violence.

Ahmed Kathrada Foundation – Nonprofit organisation promoting nonracialism, constitutional democracy and active citizenship.

Migrant, refugee and anti-xenophobia organisations

Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town – Nonprofit organisation providing support and advocacy for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) – Civil society network that promotes the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in South Africa.

International human rights bodies in South Africa

Unicef South Africa – South African office of the United Nations Children’s Fund, focusing on child rights, education, health and protection.

UNHCR regional office for Southern Africa – The United Nations Refugee Agency’s regional office supports and protects refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa and neighbouring countries.

Amnesty International South Africa – Branch of the global human rights organisation, focusing on advocacy, campaigns and research on human rights in South Africa.

Human Rights Watch (Africa division) – Monitors and reports on human rights developments in South Africa and across the region, with periodic investigations and advocacy.

News and information

GroundUp – Independent news service reporting on community-level issues, socioeconomic rights, service delivery, housing, education, migration and legal developments.

Spotlight – Public interest health journalism platform monitoring South Africa’s response to TB, HIV, health systems performance and health rights.

Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism – Nonprofit health media organisation producing evidence-based reporting on public health policy and social justice impacts.

Africa Check – Nonprofit fact-checking organisation verifying public claims and data across Africa to support informed public debate and counter misinformation affecting policy and rights.

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Image credits

All images are in the public domain, licensed as Creative Commons (CC). Credit for specific images as follows:

• Political rights, citizenship, children, communities, just administration, arrested & accused people courtesy of GCIS. Licensed CC BY-ND 4.0.
• Slavery, servitude & forced labour courtesy of Image Journeys. Licensed CC BY-ND 2.0.
• Limitation of rights courtesy of JackAZ Photo. Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
• Human rights bodies courtesy of Brian Smithson. Licensed CC BY 2.0.
• All other images courtesy of MediaClub. Licensed CC BY-SA 2.0.

Researched, written and designed by Mary Alexander.
Updated August 2025.
Comments? Email mary1alexander@gmail.com.

Disclaimer: This is a guide. It is not legal advice.

The post The plain language guide to South Africa’s Bill of Rights appeared first on South Africa Gateway.

The idea of wellbeing often carries a Eurocentric emphasis on the individual. By contrast, flourishing includes the social, spiritual and ecological contexts in which we live – fully, meaningfully and in a satisfying relationship with the world around us. (Image: Media Club)

12 July 2025

What does it mean to live a good life? Psychologists and social scientists have been focusing on a new idea called flourishing – a sense of wellbeing that goes beyond just happiness or success. It’s about your whole life being good, including how you interact with other people and your community. So then, how do Africans fare when it comes to flourishing?

Victor Counted is a psychological scientist whose research across 40 African countries offers a data-rich rethinking of flourishing on the continent. His findings challenge the dominant narrative that Africa is “lagging behind” in development by showing a more nuanced picture of what it means to live a good life. We asked him more.

What is flourishing?

Flourishing is more than economic growth or individual happiness. It’s a multidimensional state of being that reflects how people feel about their lives and how well their lives are actually going. So it also measures people’s values within their community.

The idea of wellbeing often carries a Eurocentric emphasis on the individual – personal satisfaction, autonomy, achievement. Flourishing accounts for how whole a person is in relation to their environment.

It includes the social, spiritual and ecological contexts in which one lives. So, it’s not just about how one feels, but how one lives – fully, meaningfully and in a satisfying relationship with the world around us.

What is the Global Flourishing Study?

The Global Flourishing Study tries to measure global patterns of human flourishing. It’s an ongoing five-year longitudinal study in over 200,000 participants across 22 countries.

I was one of the team of global scholars brought together to examine the trends on what it means to live well across cultures and life circumstances.

The study identifies six key dimensions of flourishing:

• Happiness and life satisfaction
• Mental and physical health
• Meaning and purpose
• Character and virtue
• Close social relationships
• Financial and material stability

Participants rate how they’re doing in each of these areas on a scale from 0 to 10. Further questions capture experiences related to trust, loneliness, hope, resilience, and other related wellbeing variables.

Of the 22 nations, five were African: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Egypt.

While these countries didn’t top the global rankings (Indonesia and Mexico did), Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt all reported relatively high flourishing scores, especially when wellbeing was considered apart from financial status.

Nigeria, for example, ranked 5th globally in flourishing scores that excluded financial indicators – ahead of many wealthier nations. Nigerians indicated strengths in social relationships, character and virtues (like forgiveness or helping others). But potential areas of growth included financial wellbeing, housing, ethnic discrimination and education.

Overall, this suggests that while material resources matter, they’re not the only thing that determines wellbeing. Kenya ranked 7th, Egypt 10th, Tanzania 11th and South Africa 13th. Each showed unique strengths in areas like meaning, social connection or mental health.

You did a separate study on flourishing in Africa. What did you find?

In a 2024 study we analysed data from the Gallup World Poll (2020 to 2022) to explore 38 indicators of wellbeing across 40 African countries.

This study offered a more detailed and culture-sensitive picture of how Africans experience and prioritise flourishing. The dimensions explored were derived from both local and universal sources, allowing for regionally relevant insights.

We found that African populations often score high in meaning, character and social relationships – despite economic hardship. This offers an important corrective to western assumptions about wellbeing.

Some of our key findings were:

• There is significant diversity between and within African countries. Mauritius consistently ranked highest in life evaluations (overall satisfaction with their lives), while countries like Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe scored lowest.
• East African countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia showed strong performance in social wellbeing indicators (like feeling respected or learning new things daily) even when economic indicators were low.
• Countries in West Africa, such as Senegal and Ghana, scored high in emotional wellbeing, with many people reporting positive daily emotions like enjoyment and laughter.
• Southern African nations, despite challenges like income inequality, displayed resilience through strong community ties and cultural practices rooted in the philosophy of ubuntu.

The results reinforced that flourishing in Africa cannot only be reduced to gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (a measure of the average economic output per person in a country) – nor to western norms of success.

What can African countries focus on to flourish?

In my view, the path to greater flourishing lies in embracing local knowledge and investing in culturally relevant development priorities. Instead of following western pathways – centred on individual advancement – Africa can model alternative flourishing pathways that reflect what matters most to African people.

1. Prioritise local knowledge systems

African ideas about a connected society – like ubuntu (Southern Africa), ujamaa (East Africa), teranga or wazobia (West Africa), and al-musawat wal tarahum (North Africa) teach people to care for each other and live in peace. These values help people live meaningful lives and can inform leadership and legislation.

2. Redefine development metrics

Western development models focus on individual achievement, economic output and material consumption. GDP per capita fails to capture the everyday realities and aspirations of African communities. We should also measure things like how happy people are, how hopeful they feel about the future, how strong and resilient their communities are, and how clean, safe and dignifying their living environments are.

This is not a new idea – for years development scholars have called for a shift away from narrow economic indicators toward a focus on human dignity, agency, and the real opportunities people have to pursue the lives they value. What’s new is the growing availability of data and the momentum to take these alternative metrics seriously in shaping national policies and priorities.

3. Invest in education for character development

Quality education is essential to unlocking the continent’s potential to flourish. But Africa needs more than just academic skills and workforce readiness – it needs a strategy for intentional development of values and habits that shape how a person thinks, feels, and acts with integrity.

Part of the problem lies in how the humanities – fields like history, literature, philosophy, and religious studies – are often undervalued or underfunded in education systems. But it is precisely these disciplines that nurture moral imagination, critical reflection, and civic responsibility. We need educational models that form not just workers, but whole persons – people who can think ethically, act responsibly, and lead with character in their communities.

What can African flourishing offer to the world?

Africa is not waiting to be saved. Across the continent, people are building communities of care, cultivating joy amid hardship, and passing on values of unity, faith, and compassion. This is what development looks like when rooted in human dignity.

Africa flourishing goals offer an alternative vision for development – one that starts with what Africa already has, not what it lacks. These are locally emic aspirations for wellbeing. They are shaped by Africa’s indigenous knowledge systems, cultural values, and religious/spiritual traditions. Pursuing these goals means prioritising wholeness over wealth, community over consumption, and resilience over rescue.

The continent has so much to offer the world: wisdom, strong community values, and ways of staying resilient and living fully even in hard times. But many of these local insights are missing in the global science of wellbeing.

Victor Counted is an associate professor of psychology at Regent University in the US and consults for Africa Flourishing Initiative.
This article was originally published by The Conversation on 23 June 2025 under a Creative Commons licence.

The post High scores for African countries on ‘flourishing’ index appeared first on South Africa Gateway.

Mary Alexander • 7 August 2025

“This is Durban, South Africa,” begins the caption of a video posted on the X account of US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on 20 July 2025.

“This is what removing ‘White Oppression’ and replacing it with Soros NGO systems looks like,” it continues. “A glimpse into the future of ALL Western countries if changes are not made fast as already seen in the SH!T HOLE blue city’s across America.”

The post has been viewed more than 1.6 million times so far, and has spread widely on X (here and here), Facebook (here, here and here) and elsewhere (here, here and here).

The footage shows mounds of trash strewn over an otherwise almost empty street lined with closed-up shopfronts. Taken from TikTok, it’s overlaid with the text: “This is the situation in Durban town right now.” It’s also been reposted with captions such as “This is Durban, South Africa, in neighborhoods where there are no white people.”

Durban is a port city in South Africa’s eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, on the Indian Ocean coast.

Alex Jones, Donald Trump and ‘white oppression’

The founder of the InfoWars disinformation platform, Alex Jones has built his fortune on fake news and false conspiracies. For his relentless claim that the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting – where 20 children aged six and seven were killed – was a hoax staged by “crisis actors”, US courts have ordered him to pay US$1.5 billion to the victims’ parents.

In the X post, what Jones means by “White Oppression” is presumably South Africa’s universally condemned racist system of apartheid, which ended with the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.

By “Soros” he refers to the billionaire US philanthropist George Soros, founder of the pro-democracy Open Society Foundations and a favourite target of conspiracy theorists.

Jones is a strident supporter of US president Donald Trump, a Republican.

Since retaking office in November 2024, Trump has made false claims about land restitution and white genocide in South Africa. He has also criticised its genocide case against Israel, cut US aid to the country and slapped a 30% tariff – the highest in sub-Saharan Africa – on South African imports.

Trump has in the past referred to African nations as “shithole countries”. Jones’s “SH!T HOLE blue city’s [sic] across America” is his description of cities governed by the US Democratic Party.

Nine days of violence in 2021

The video does show Durban, but during a historic upheaval more than four years ago.

We took a screengrab of its first frame and ran it through a Google image search. This led us to a Reddit thread on the clip, where one user had this to say:

The video was originally uploaded July 13, 2021 by TikTok user Afu Afu (@af__ptl) and shows Durban, South Africa during the July 2021 riots. The TikTok account is private now but it can be seen in tweets from the time.

The user links to two X posts with the same video, one from 15 July 2021 and the other posted three days later.

From 8 to 17 July 2021 violence exploded across South Africa after former president Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for defying a court order to testify at a commission probing corruption during his presidency. The “Zuma riots” were largely confined to KwaZulu-Natal – Zuma’s home province – and the urban province of Gauteng.

The looting that followed was largely opportunistic, as people took advantage of the chaos to raid shops. More than 300 people were killed over the nine days. It remains the worst violence South Africa has seen since the end of apartheid.

At the time, the world was still gripped by Covid. Analysts ascribed the violence not only to longstanding poverty and inequality, intractable problems with roots deep in the apartheid past, but also the social and economic turmoil of the pandemic.

The video does not show a typical day in Durban. It was shot from 440 West Street in Durban Central, heading east. A Google Street View of the same route snapped in November 2024 shows a very different scene.

Taken in its entirety, Jones’s claim is false. The footage is from a moment four years ago, when the country faced the unprecedented crisis of the arrest of a former president. And it could be said that the July 2021 riots were ultimately caused by the “White Oppression” of apartheid, not by its removal.

The post Trump ally uses four-year-old footage of South Africa’s Zuma riots to justify ‘white oppression’ appeared first on South Africa Gateway.

The famous Great Enclosure in the ruins of Great Zimbabwe. Great Zimbabwe was just one of the major states that arose in southern Africa, starting with Mapungubwe in 1220 and including Thulamela and later the Venda Kingdom, the Pedi Kingdom and the Zulu Kingdom. (Image: Andrew Moore)

Peter Delius (University of the Witwatersrand), Linell Chewins (University of the Witwatersrand) and Tim Forssman (University of Mpumalanga)

11 February 2025

Were you told that gold mining in southern Africa started after 1852? Or that the export of iron, steel, copper and gold began in the late 19th century? Or that South Africa became integrated into a global trading system only after 1652? Or that the first powerful state in South Africa was the Zulu kingdom?

If you learned that any of these things were true, you are like most South Africans, who have missed out on at least a thousand years of the country’s history.

Both radical and conservative historians have focused heavily on colonial history, a story starting at the Cape and playing out within colonial boundaries. As a result, South Africa’s past has been compressed into a shortened timeline and a limited geography. That shorter version is what’s taught at schools and universities.

If we abandon 1652 – when the first Dutch settlers arrived in the Cape – as the key historical starting point, and go back a thousand years and cast our gaze 2,000km north of Table Mountain, a very different story unfolds.

Our research is attempting to rethink South African history. As many years of work in the interior show, along with our new focus on a central southern African trading landscape, Thulamela, the formative steps in South Africa’s history began here, along the Limpopo River.

Ostrich eggshell beads found at Thulamela tell a lot about ancient production strategies, value systems and trade. (Image: author supplied)

Early cooperative relationships

Two thousand years ago, San hunter gatherers were the primary occupants of the region around the Limpopo River valley, an area around the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers that includes Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Contrary to popular opinion, these groups weren’t living in isolated bands. They were connected through regional networks of exchange spanning hundreds, even thousands, of kilometres.

At this time, South Africa was on the brink of fundamental change. From about 350 AD, Bantu-speaking, iron-using, livestock-owning farmers began to settle the Soutpansberg, south of the Limpopo River. They initially established mainly cooperative relationships with the San, especially in hunting and trading.

These farmers introduced a key innovation into the region – the production of metal tools, weapons, currency and jewellery. These goods were for their own use and for expanding trade networks.

Map of prominent trading sites in the East African trade network, labelled from north to south.
1: Kilwa; 2: Tsodilo Hills; 3: Khami; 4: Great Zimbabwe; 5: initial gold reefs; 6: Chibuene; 7: Schroda, K2 and Mapungubwe; 8: Thulamela and Makahane; 9: Dzata/Venda Capital; 10: KwaGandaganda and Ndondwane (Image: author supplied)

At the start, iron was the most important metal but over time, copper and gold became more and more significant. The farmers were skilled in locating and extracting these ores, which, in the case of gold and copper, often involved shaft mining. Metal production also demanded pyrotechnical knowledge to smelt ores and to fashion metals into functional and decorative forms.

Local trade, global connections

Another crucial development took place in the 7th century AD. The Indian Ocean world connected to the expanding regional trade networks which had linked the coast and the interior. The transoceanic sailors and traders were initially motivated by the growing demand for ivory in Asia and the Middle East.

This external demand brought exotic glass beads and cloth deep into the interior, through African traders and rulers. A node in the system was Chibuene, a large coastal trading settlement on the Mozambican coast near modern Vilanculos. From here, beads and cloth travelled south, to the vicinity of Durban in today’s KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and across the interior, past the Okavango delta to places such as the Tsodilo hills west of the delta’s panhandle in Botswana.

Between the 10th and 15th centuries, the market for gold boomed – especially in Egypt, Persia, India and China. Southern Africa played an important role in meeting this demand because of the rich gold reserves of the Zimbabwe plateau and the adjacent region of the Limpopo valley.

So, it is clear that an economic and mineral revolution took place long before Europeans settled South Africa’s Cape. Colonial processes of globalisation and the mineral revolution in the 19th century trailed far in the wake of African involvement in the vast Indian Ocean economy through their hunting, mining, smelting and artisanal skills.

Rise of states

Indian Ocean trade contributed to major transformations in the interior. The wealth it generated led to social stratification and the emergence of a distinct ruling class. Leaders’ economic, political and spiritual power intensified. These processes found expression in the establishment in 1220 of Mapungubwe, in the middle Limpopo Valley, and the first state in southern Africa.

Over the centuries that followed, linked but shifting patterns of demand gave rise to major states like Great Zimbabwe, Thulamela, and later the Venda Kingdom, the Pedi Kingdom and the Zulu Kingdom.

The little-known trading state, Thulamela, was located in the north of what’s now the Kruger Park. From 1250 to 1650 it was a key node of production and exchange. But for many decades the site was ignored. When intensive research finally started in the 1990s it made very limited progress in revealing the form and nature of the state. But renewed and interdisciplinary research at the site and surrounding areas has already produced new insights into the history of Thulamela and promises to generate many more in the near future.

An aerial view of an ancient residential enclosure in Thulamela, a trading state in the north of what’s now the Kruger Park. From 1250 to 1650 it was a key node of production and exchange. (Image: author supplied)

New windows to a past

Given this deep history of powerful kingdoms connected by an underlying but dynamic economic system, we have to let go of the idea that the Zulu Kingdom, which formed in the early 19th century, was the first powerful state in what was to become South Africa. In fact, it was a relatively recent example of much deeper and wider transformations.

It was only in the 19th century that expanding colonial capitalism and settlement fuelled by the “second” mineral revolution penetrated the interior and encountered its kingdoms and trading opportunities.

Pottery is common at Iron Age sites and their decorations are specific to groups and periods. (Image: author supplied)

The interaction between the two worlds culminated in a hard-fought struggle over trade, land and labour. While the African kingdoms were ultimately defeated and traders and craftsmen were displaced, their impact on the shape and nature of South African society is still felt today.

A challenge to historians now is to deepen our understanding of this missing millennium, and of pre-colonial transformations.

Researchers need to pay greater attention to a wider range of documentary sources (beyond those in English) and to oral traditions. Collaboration with scholars working on archaeology, historical linguistics and genetics will also tell us more about the forces that have shaped our present.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The post South Africa’s history uncovered: the thousand-year gap they don’t teach in school appeared first on South Africa Gateway.

MARY ALEXANDER • 12 MARCH 2024

“A Nigerian businessman based in South Africa was arrested for allegedly dealing in hard drugs,” reads the caption of a video circulating on social media since 24 February 2024.*

The 10-minute video shows an agitated and handcuffed man answering questions about drugs and money from people behind the camera.

The “Nigerian drug dealer” is a common stereotype in anti-migrant xenophobia in South Africa.

But does the video really show a Nigerian national based in South Africa after his arrest for dealing drugs?

Drug enforcement agency arrests nine ‘Liberian-based Nigerian nationals’

Small and almost illegible text at the top of the video reads:

A well-known spare part dealer (Nigerian National) that goes by the name ‘JAPAN’ from Old Clara Town Bushrod Island was allegedly caught with huge amounts of illicit drugs in his compound in the Sayon Town Community earlier today, Feb 21 2024.

The place names in the text – Clara Town, Sayon Town and Bushrod Island – all indicate that the video was shot in the West African country of Liberia, not South Africa.

Clara Town and Sayon Town are neighbourhoods on Bushrod Island just north of Liberia’s capital of Monrovia on the Atlantic Ocean coast. Clara Town is known for being the birthplace of professional football player and former Liberian president George Weah.

Bushrod Island includes the Freeport of Monrovia, Liberia’s largest seaport.

None of these places are in South Africa.

The video has the watermark of Eben TV Live, a community TV station based in Bushrod Island’s Logan Town.

The original video was posted on the Eben TV Live Facebook page on 22 February. Its description gives more details on the incident.*

These led us to a 22 February report by the New Dawn, a Liberian news website, headlined “LDEA nabs 9 Nigerian drug suspects”.

The report begins: “The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has arrested nine Liberian-based Nigerian nationals and two Liberians suspected of running a drug cartel in Sayon Town on Bushrod Island.”

According to the report, the arrests came out of an LDEA sweep of Sayon Town the day before.

The man in the video can be seen in two photos in the New Dawn’s report. He’s one of the nine identified as “Liberian-based Nigerian nationals”.

The video was shot in Liberia, not South Africa. And the man in the video is based in Liberia, not South Africa.

* Some Facebook and Instagram users may have deleted their posts after Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program rated their claims as untrue, or if their posts were misused for disinformation.

Published by Africa Check on 15 March 2024

The post Video of man arrested in Liberian drug sweep doesn’t show ‘Nigerian based in South Africa’ appeared first on South Africa Gateway.

MARY ALEXANDER • 5 MARCH 2024

South Africans are set to vote on 29 May 2024 in what could be the country’s most game-changing elections in 30 years. Polls suggest the ruling African National Congress (ANC) may lose the majority it has held since 1994.

As campaign fever rises, an old rumour has surfaced on social media.*

It claims that if a voter doesn’t cast their ballot, that vote automatically goes to the ANC – or, more generally, the “ruling party”.

The rumour has many versions, all with the same basic claim:

• If you were a voter before then suddenly stopped voting , the ruling party which happens to be the current government automatically counts your vote towards theirs regardless of whether or not you voted. this is somehow one of their corrupt tendencies/system which is why people are encouraged to vote.
• I am also here to remind you that if you do not vote, your vote automatically goes to the ruling party which is ANC.
• We as young people don’t like to go and vote, one thing some of us aren’t aware of is, if we don’t our votes automatically goes to the ruling party.
• In case you didn’t know (I also didn’t know and it took me a while to grasp it), if you’re registered to vote but you do NOT vote, apparently that vote automatically goes to the ruling party.. just saying!
• Even if you are registered to vote, if you decide not to vote on the elections day, your vote will automatically fall under ANC. Simply because ANC is the ruling party.

Elections for South Africa’s national parliament and nine provincial governments are held every five years. The previous elections in 2019 saw support for the ANC drop to 57.5% of the national vote, its lowest outcome yet.

The main opposition parties are the Democratic Alliance, which won 20.8% of the vote in 2019, and the Economic Freedom Fighters, which scored 10.8%.

All South African citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote. But they first have to register with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), which adds their details to the voter’s roll.

The claim that votes not cast in the 2024 elections will “automatically” go to the ruling party can also be seen here, here, here, here, here, here and here. But is it true?

‘Why would they bother if we vote or not?’

South Africa’s Electoral Act of 1998 sets out how votes are counted in elections. There’s no mention in the act or any of its amendments that if a registered voter doesn’t vote, that vote automatically goes to the ruling party.

The IEC keeps an online database of election statistics going back to 1994. One of those stats is voter turnout, or the number of registered voters who actually turned up at the polls on election day.

In 2019 voter turnout was 66.05%. This means that out of 26,756,649 registered voters, 17,672,851 cast their vote (including 235,472 spoiled ballots). It also means that 9,083,798 voters did not vote.

These 9 million non-votes did not “go to” the ANC.

The ruling party received 10,026,475 votes, or 57.5% of all valid votes (excluding spoiled ballots), giving it 230 of the 400 seats in parliament.

If the 9 million non-voting ballots were then credited to the ANC its share would have risen to an impossible 109.59% of all valid votes. And if its total was made up of those 9 million non-votes then only 5.4% of valid votes were actually cast for the ANC – highly unlikely, given the former liberation movement’s continued (if waning) popularity.

‘There is absolutely no truth to the rumour’ – electoral commission

Some social media users make a good argument against the claim.

“If it’s true why would they [the ANC] even bother if we vote or not, because us not voting would automatically make sure that they remain in power right? So why would they encourage us?”

In other words, if the claim were true it would be in the ANC’s interest if voters stayed away from the polls. Yet the party campaigns actively and has urged people to go out and vote.

The rumour is more than a decade old, doing the rounds on social media since at least South Africa’s 2011 municipal elections. It cropped up again during national elections in 2014 (here and here) and 2019 (here and here).

In 2019 it caught the attention of the IEC, which took to X (then Twitter) to debunk it.

“There is absolutely no truth to the rumour that if you don’t vote your vote will go to the ruling (or any other) party,” the commission tweeted. “Only valid votes cast in an election are counted in the result. Thanks for checking.”

There is absolutely no truth to the rumour that if you don’t vote your vote will go to the ruling (or any other) party. Only valid votes cast in an election are counted in the result. Thanks for checking.

— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 8, 2019

It’s not true that if you don’t vote, your vote automatically goes to the ruling party.

The rumour may come from an argument that people who choose not to vote – for whatever reason – somehow benefit the ruling party. But even that argument has holes in it. There is no saying which party stayaway voters would have voted for if they had cast their ballots.

* Some Facebook and Instagram users may have deleted their posts after Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program rated their claims as untrue.

Published by Africa Check on 8 March 2024

The post If you don’t vote in South Africa’s elections, your vote goes to the ruling party? No, only valid votes counted appeared first on South Africa Gateway.

MARY ALEXANDER • 20 FEBRUARY 2024

In a tense semifinal that ran well into extra time after a 1-1 draw, Nigeria’s Super Eagles finally beat South Africa’s Bafana Bafana 4-2 on penalties in the 7 February 2024 semifinal of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) football tournament.

Soon after, three photos appeared on social media with the claim they showed people in Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, attacking Nigerians after the Super Eagles’ win.*

“Breaking News: South Africans Begin Attack On Nigerians In Johannesburg And Looting Of Their For Losing To Nigeria,” reads a typical caption.

“At least six Nigerian shops have been set on fire while others are been looted by South African anger moob for losing to Nigeria last night.”

The first photo shows a man with a crowd behind him kicking a burning object in a city street. The second shows a burning tyre and an angry crowd gesturing towards the camera. The third is a blurry photo of a car dealership in flames.

The claim can also be seen here, here, here and here.

Nigerian high commission warns of threats

On 6 February, the day before the match, the Nigerian high commission in South Africa issued a warning of “inflammatory online comments” and “veiled threats” of reprisals if Bafana Bafana lost to the Super Eagles.

It advised the “Nigerian community in South Africa” to be “watchful of their utterances, be mindful of where they choose to watch the match … and refrain from engaging in loud, riotous or provocative celebrations should the Super Eagles win the match”.

South Africa’s international relations department dismissed the warning as a “false alarm” that created “unnecessary tension between the citizens of South Africa and Nigerians living in or visiting South Africa”.

It said there was “no history of soccer hooliganism among South Africans” after the “many” matches between the two national teams.

But South Africa does have a long history of xenophobic violence against migrants from elsewhere on the continent, including Nigerians.

Do the photos show that violence did in fact erupt in Johannesburg after the Afcon semifinal?

Attack and counterattack – in 2019

Google reverse image searches reveal that all three photos are more than four years old.

The first and third appear in news reports on the September 2019 xenophobic attacks in Gauteng, a South African province that includes Johannesburg. Businesses thought to be owned by migrants were looted and set on fire.

The second photo was taken the same month in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, during retaliatory attacks on South African companies.

Both the first and second can be found on stock image sites.

The first is on Getty Images, credited to Agence France-Presse photographer Michele Spatari.

Its description reads: “A man kicks a burning piece of furniture during a riot in the Johannesburg suburb of Turffontein on September 2, 2019 as angry protesters loot alleged foreign-owned shops today in a new wave of violence targeting foreign nationals.”

The second photo can be found on AP Newsroom, the Associated Press stock media site.

Its description reads: “Protesters throw rocks at policemen during an attack on South African business, in Abuja, Nigeria, Wednesday Sept. 4, 2019. South African-owned businesses operating in Nigeria are being targeted with violence in retaliation for xenophobic attacks carried out against Africans working in South Africa.”

Malvern businesses set ablaze

The origin of the blurry third photo of a burning car dealership was more difficult to find. A larger version appears in early reports on the September 2019 violence – in Nigeria here, and in South Africa here, credited to “via WhatsApp”.

It’s said to show one of many businesses attacked during the night of 1 September 2019 on Jules Street in Malvern, a suburb in the east of Johannesburg.

Its caption in a 2 September report by Nigeria’s Vanguard newspaper reads: “One of the Auto Marts set ablaze by an angry mob on Sunday, Sept. 1, in Johannesburg, South Africa.”

The report says “witnesses living on Jules Street” described the mob as “very organised and well-coordinated in looting and burning of any shops/businesses suspected to be owned by foreign nationals”.

The burned banner on the dealership shows the address 161 Jules Street. Text on the left and the right indicate the business was called Salbro Auto.

We googled Salbro Auto. This led us to a 2 September 2019 article on TimesLive, headlined “‘I’m ashamed to be a South African’ – shop owner after Jeppe violence”.

It reads: “Tears flow as family members of Salbro Auto hopelessly walk through their car dealership which has been burnt to the ground. Nothing but burnt down frames of 40 cars, which were once worth millions, are left.”

* Some Facebook and Instagram users may have deleted their posts after Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program rated their claims as untrue.

Published by Africa Check on 23 February 2024

The post South Africans attack Nigerians after 2024 Afcon semifinal loss? No, photos from 2019 appeared first on South Africa Gateway.

MARY ALEXANDER • 14 FEBRUARY 2024

A video of a huge crowd in green and black marching down a long avenue is doing the rounds online with the claim they are supporters of a new contender in South African politics, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party.*

The party takes its name from the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC) during the struggle against apartheid. MK for short, uMkhonto weSizwe means “spear of the nation” in isiZulu.

The struggle ended with South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, won by the ANC. It’s since been re-elected every five years. But with the country set to vote again in 2024, opinion polls suggest it may lose its majority for the first time.

On 24 January, the video was posted on TikTok with the words “ANC is out. Viva MK party.”

A week or so later it appeared on X/Twitter with the caption “MK IS THE BIGGEST POLITICAL PARTY IN SA CURRENTLY!!!” The post has been viewed more than 91,600 times so far.

It was also uploaded, with the same caption, on YouTube, where it’s had more than 28,000 views. The YouTube video has in turn been posted across Facebook – here, here, here, here and here.

The MK Party was registered with South Africa’s elections commission in September 2023. Debate about who actually owned the name “uMkhonto weSizwe” soon followed.

The confusion continued into December when Jacob Zuma, president of the ANC government from 2009 to 2018, endorsed the MK Party and began to campaign on its behalf. He was quickly expelled from the ANC.

Debate has extended to the party’s logo, which uses a slightly modified version of the original MK emblem of a warrior holding a shield and brandishing a spear, in black, set against a green background.

But does the clip really show MK Party supporters?

Fuerza del Pueblo march on Workers’ Day

The video’s watermark shows it comes from the TikTok account @rolandomarte81, where it was posted on 11 November 2023.

Other videos on the account suggest it’s based in the Dominican Republic, a Spanish-speaking Caribbean country east of Central America on the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti.

A Google Lens reverse image search of the first frame of the video led us to another TikTok account from the Dominican Republic. It also brought up a post on X with a longer version of the clip.

Here it’s described as being shot on 1 May 2023 in San Ignacio de Sabaneta, a city in the northwest of the Dominican Republic.

La lucha por la rebaja en los precios de los alimentos y combustibles; más que ideología política, es justicia social. ¡Únete a la lucha por una sociedad más justa e igualitaria! @LeonelFernandez@FPComunica#MarchaTrabajadoresFP#MarchaFP #FuerzadelPueblo pic.twitter.com/v4aXnO8V6D

— Magdalena Valerio (@Magdale34645821) May 1, 2023

The post’s mentions include Leonel Fernández, a former president of the Dominican Republic, and his opposition Fuerza del Pueblo (“power of the people”) political party.

It also includes the hashtag #MarchaTrabajadoresFP, which leads to numerous X posts about a 2023 Fuerza del Pueblo march held on 1 May – recognised as May Day, Labour Day and International Workers’ Day – in the Dominican Republic. In Spanish, “marcha” means “march” and “trabajadores” means “workers”.

Many of the posts under the #MarchaTrabajadoresFP hashtag include other videos that clearly show the same scene in the viral clip.

It was shot in the Dominican Republic, not South Africa. The people in green and black are supporters of Fuerza del Pueblo, not the uMkhonto weSizwe Party.

Published by Africa Check on 16 February 2024

* Some Facebook and Instagram users may have deleted their posts after Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program rated their claims as untrue.

The post Video of May Day march in Dominican Republic, not uMkhonto weSizwe Party supporters in South Africa appeared first on South Africa Gateway.