I was reading country profiles on the BBC and I noticed that Africans live far shorter lives than people who live in other countries, except China. From what I've seen, on average, people in other parts of the world usually die in their late 60's to early 70's. Yet in African countries on average Africans die in their 40's. Northern African countries, such as Algeria, Tunsia and Libya are exceptions: they have life spans of about 70 years. A few other African countries' populations have life spans that extend to 55 years.
While civil wars, and famines, account for some of Africa's problems, they don't explain why African's don't live long. Africa as an export market seemingly has limitless potential. Considering Africa's vast resources, I never understood why the country is so under-developed. It almost seems that investors are willing to wait until the population diminishes to make their profits.
Full name: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Population: 74.2 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 46 years (men), 49 years (women)
Full name: Republic of Ghana
Population: 21.8 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 56 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
Full name: The Republic of Botswana
Population: 1.7 million (via UN, 2006)
Life expectancy: 36 years (men), 37 years (women) (UN)
Full name: The Republic of Ivory Coast
Population: 17.1 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 45 years (men), 47 years (women) (UN)
Full name: The Federal Republic of Nigeria
Population: 130.2 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 43 years (men), 43 years (women) (UN)
Full name: Republic of South Africa
Population: 45.3 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 47 years (men), 51 years (women)
Full name: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Population: 56 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 42 years (men), 44 years (women) (UN)
Full name: Republic of Liberia
Population: 3.6 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 41 years (men), 43 years (women) (UN)
Full name: Republic of Zimbabwe
Population: 12.9 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 37 years (men), 37 years (women) (UN)
Full name: Republic of Rwanda
Population: 8.6 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 42 years (men), 45 years (women) (UN)
Full name: The Republic of Mozambique
Population: 19.4 million (via UN, 2006)
Life expectancy: 41 years (men), 43 years (women) (UN)
Full name: The Republic of Botswana
Population: 1.7 million (via UN, 2006)
Life expectancy: 36 years (men), 37 years (women) (UN)
Full name: Republic of Sierra Leone
Population: 5.3 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 39 years (men), 42 years (women) (UN)
While civil wars, and famines, account for some of Africa's problems, they don't explain why African's don't live long. Africa as an export market seemingly has limitless potential. Considering Africa's vast resources, I never understood why the country is so under-developed. It almost seems that investors are willing to wait until the population diminishes to make their profits.
Full name: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Population: 74.2 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 46 years (men), 49 years (women)
Full name: Republic of Ghana
Population: 21.8 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 56 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
Full name: The Republic of Botswana
Population: 1.7 million (via UN, 2006)
Life expectancy: 36 years (men), 37 years (women) (UN)
Full name: The Republic of Ivory Coast
Population: 17.1 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 45 years (men), 47 years (women) (UN)
Full name: The Federal Republic of Nigeria
Population: 130.2 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 43 years (men), 43 years (women) (UN)
Full name: Republic of South Africa
Population: 45.3 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 47 years (men), 51 years (women)
Full name: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Population: 56 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 42 years (men), 44 years (women) (UN)
Full name: Republic of Liberia
Population: 3.6 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 41 years (men), 43 years (women) (UN)
Full name: Republic of Zimbabwe
Population: 12.9 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 37 years (men), 37 years (women) (UN)
Full name: Republic of Rwanda
Population: 8.6 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 42 years (men), 45 years (women) (UN)
Full name: The Republic of Mozambique
Population: 19.4 million (via UN, 2006)
Life expectancy: 41 years (men), 43 years (women) (UN)
Full name: The Republic of Botswana
Population: 1.7 million (via UN, 2006)
Life expectancy: 36 years (men), 37 years (women) (UN)
Full name: Republic of Sierra Leone
Population: 5.3 million (UN, 2005)
Life expectancy: 39 years (men), 42 years (women) (UN)