July 12, 2002. Copyright 2002. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

Africa by the numbers

LONDON, July 12, Graphic News: Africa is the only continent where poverty is on the rise. Almost nine out of ten people in Africa's poorest countries live on less than US$2 a day -- in purchasing-power terms -- and two-thirds survive on less than $1 a day, according to a report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The dire economic facts about the continent speak for themselves, says the report. The total combined annual economic output of the 48 African countries is a puny $300bn, roughly the same as Argentina which has a population of only 30 million compared with AfricaŐs 818 million. Africa receives less than 1% of global foreign direct investment.

The effects of poverty extend throughout society -- more than 140 million young Africans are illiterate. More than 200 million Africans have no access to medical services and 250 million have no safe drinking water. 

The UN says the absolute daily minimum amount of water a person needs is 50 litres (13.2 gallons) -- five litres for drinking, 20 for sanitation and hygiene, 15 for bathing and 10 for preparing food. People in 13 countries try to exist on 10 litres a day (2.6 gallons). In 27 more countries, people try to manage on a daily average of 30 litres (eight gallons) or less. 

Of the 40 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, 28.1 million are in sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly 70 percent of new cases occur there. The disease killed 2.3 million on the continent last year. Life expectancy is an average of 47 years; expected to drop to 30 in some countries by 2010 if AIDS pandemic remains unchecked. 

To halve African poverty by 2015 in line with the UN Millennium SummitŐs goal, UNCTAD reckons that the economies of sub-Saharan Africa will have to grow by between 7% and 8% a year in real terms, well above their average performance of a little more than 2% from 1991 to 1997.
/ENDS

Source: UNCTAD