2005 in Africa - Demography

Demography

• A scientific report by the Catholic University of Leuven (UCL) was submitted on 8 March 2005 to Panapress news agency in Brussels:
  • The demographic growth in Africa was 2,4% in 2001. The fertility rate was 5,5 children per woman (1,8 to 3,5 in the rest of the world). In West Africa, it reaches 7 children per woman.
  • Life expectancy is 47 years on average (63 years in the rest of the world). AIDS is responsible for the fall of life expectancy in many African countries (in Botswana, life expectancy decreased from 65 years in 1990 to 35 years currently, the level of 1940)
  • Sub-Saharan Africa represents 10% of the world population.
  • 34 of the 39 poorest countries in the world are African.
  • The rate of illiteracy is 38%.