50 Facts About Africa You May Not Know

Selected statistics from the World Bank Regional Report on Africa 2009

3

SSA GDP growth was 5.1 percent.  Angola had the largest growth at 14.8 percent while the lowest was Botswana with a negative growth (-1.0 percent).

5

Equatorial Guinea has SSA's highest GNI per capita ($14,980); Burundi has the lowest ($140).

9

Total trade as percentage of GDP is the highest in Seychelles, 283.4 percent and lowest in Central Africa Republic, 37.5 percent.

10

In two thirds of SSA countries, one or two products are responsible for at least 75 percent of the country's total exports.

11

On average, the merchandise export within trade blocs is 8.4 percent of total bloc exports.

15

South Africa uses the most electric power per person (4,809.0kW/h); Ethiopia uses the least (38.4 kW/h).

16

In 2007, Burundi has the highest proportion of women in its labor force (90.2 percent); Sudan has the lowest (32.8 percent).

21

For the period 2007, Zimbabwe has the highest adult literacy rate (91.2 percent); Mali and Burkina Faso have the lowest (28.7 percent).

29

In 2010, starting a business in Guinea requires 213 days for each procedure; it takes 3 days in Rwanda.

32

Firms identifying corruption as a major constraint was highest in Côte d'Ivoire at 75.0 percent, whilst the lowest is Ghana 9.9 percent.

30

In 2010, Sudan has the highest number of procedures to enforce contracts of 53; Rwanda has the lowest of 24.

48

Gabon has the highest forest area as a percentage of total land area at 84.4 percent, whilst Djibouti has the lowest at 0.2 percent. (MDG7)

49

South Africa has the highest carbon dioxide emissions of 414,649 metric tons, whilst Comoros has the lowest of 88 metric tons. (MDG 7)

For the rest of the list, visit the World Bank site here