A century ago there was only one city in Africa with a million people or more and now there are 50 housing more residents than most European nations. It is projected that in the next 10 years, cities in Africa such as Lokoja are projected to increase their populations by 78% which is quicker than any other sizable town in the world. The biggest human population increase is happening right now in Africa, where everywhere else populations are beginning to level out. With these predictions, four out of ten people will be African, 2.5 billion in the world, and 25% percent of the world's population by 2050.
By 2050 a fourth of the population will exceed 60 years old, while the average African will only be 28. With this increasing baby boom it will lift one of the poorest countries in the world and make them a global powerhouse. However, this will not be an easy feat. Currently only 9% of the available workforce in Africa are employed. This high unemployment has proven to be a very trying part of the African Economy for quite some time. In addition, the African population is growing too quickly for infrastructure such as roads, electricity, schools and businesses to be developed in order to support them.
While over the past twenty years have declined from 6.8% to 6% it is evident that it will take a much longer time to see this decrease even further.
What do you think needs to happen in order for Africa to reach its potential and use its youthful society to become the dominant country it is capable of becoming?
http://www.wsj.com/articles/for-a-growing-africa-hope-mingles-with-fear-of-the-future-1448632865
4 comments:
The rest of the world has already had their population increase which brought on more of an economic challenge as well as technological benefits. Now it is Africa's turn to grow. And assuming these numbers are correct they will make up almost half of the population worldwide. But with that population growth will come a shortage of food and jobs which Africa will have to compensate for. Hopefully with the need of jobs will come new opportunities for them, which will be filled up. And the food industry will need to flourish to feed all the hungry people.
I believe Africa is heading more towards an advanced society as time goes on. China is beginning to show more support to the once abandoned continent. Improvements in infrastructure, political stability, and elimination of discrimination is key to Africa moving forward in becoming an advanced civilization.
I agree with both the above comments. I think Africa will prove to be an integral part of the global economy in the future. Countries who begin to invest now in Africa helping to build infrastructure, investment, and education for the citizens will more than likely see a great return on their investment once the country has a solid and developed foundation. Once these investments begin to develop and employment begins to rise the companies and country will begin to flourish and will be a major competitor in the global economy and the economic powerhouses of today.
I agree with Ashely. I feel that once countries like China begin to invest in Africa helping to build their infrastructure, education, health, etc., Africa will become an integral part of the world economy. Nowadays, companies further their business ventures by entering into new countries and creating a market that had never existed in the country before. Since these companies have a great deal of experience in their markets, it is easy for them to then create that market from scratch in another part of the world but better than it was before. First, parts of South America were globalized, then parts of Eastern Asia, and now it is Africa's turn to enter the into the global marketplace.
I also think that with this advancement of technology, health services, and education, Africa's population problem will become less apparent in the coming years. As the country moves from a developing country to that of a developed one, their life expectancy will increase as will their real GDP.
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