Micro Enterprise

Sub-Saharan Africa is considered the poorest region on earth. There, 41 percent of the people live below the "extreme poverty line" of less than $1 a day. And however measured ― GDP per capita (US$) or GDP per capita (PPP US$) ― the region contains all five of the most economically-distressed countries in the world.


Sub-Saharan Africa has the
5 countries with lowest

GDP per capita

Sub-Saharan Africa has the
5 countries with lowest

GDP per capita (PPP)

Sub-Saharan Africa has the
5 countries with the highest % of

people living on less than $1 a day

Burundi • $106

Malawi • $667

Nigeria • 70.8%
DR Congo • $123
Burundi • $699
CAR • 66.6%
Ethiopia • $157
DR Congo • $714
Zambia • 63.8%
Malawi • $161
Tanzania • $744
Madagascar • 61.0%
Guinea-Bissau • $190
Niger • $781
Niger • 60.6%

 

Yet conditions are improving. In October 2007, the World Bank reported: "Study after study in recent years has confirmed some good things are happening amidst the daunting development challenges and bad news out of Africa. A World Bank report, Governance Matters 2007: Worldwide Governance Indicators 1996-2006, which measures the quality of government in 212 countries, found that African nations had shown the greatest improvement and taken the biggest steps in reducing corruption over the past 10 years. ... Africans are also the most confident in the belief that tomorrow will bring prosperity. Poverty ― though widespread ― is seen by Africans as a temporary obstacle to the continent's future of prosperity. And that's not only wishful thinking."

 

(Updated, Dec. 19, 2007)