Overview
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, surpassed in both categories only by Asia. Spanning approximately 30.3 million square kilometers when adjacent islands are included, it accounts for around 20% of Earth's total land area and about 6% of the planet's overall surface area, encompassing oceans and other bodies of water.
Population
Africa is home to nearly 1.4 billion people, making it a major center of global population growth. Notably, Africa has the youngest population of any continent: as of 2012, the median age stood at just 19.7 years, in stark contrast to the global median age of 30.4. This youthful demographic profile sets Africa apart from other continents and has significant implications for its future development.
Population projections suggest continued rapid growth in the decades ahead. Based on estimates from 2024, Africa's population is expected to surpass 3.8 billion people by the year 2100, which would represent a dramatic increase from current figures and further cement the continent's demographic importance on the world stage.
Economic Standing
Despite its size and population, Africa remains the least wealthy inhabited continent when measured by wealth per capita, and it ranks as the second-least wealthy continent in terms of total accumulated wealth, ahead only of Oceania. Scholars and researchers point to a complex mix of factors behind this economic reality, including:
- Geographic challenges
- Climate-related constraints
- Corruption within governance systems
- The lasting legacy of colonialism
- Geopolitical pressures stemming from the Cold War era
- Ongoing neocolonial dynamics in international relations and trade
Nevertheless, this overall picture of limited wealth does not tell the whole story. The African economy is currently home to many of the world's fastest-growing economies, signaling significant potential for continued economic transformation and development across the continent in the years to come.