$1 is the daily income of half of Africa's people

Standards of living in the European Union as compared to the African Nations

Latest news - 12th June 2005

The world's richest countries in the G8  have agreed to write off the $40bn (£22bn; 33bn euros) debt owed by 18 mainly African countries. This is pitiful compared with the entire debt owned by African nations. Shame on you George W Bush, and the other lesser mortals in Europe and the rest of the world.

See  the Guardian figures on 1st June 2005

OK, we accept there is a lot of corruption in certain African countries, there is a lot more in some of the rich Western countries. Take Enron as an example of creative accounting.

What about the millions who die because we endorse corruption in rich countries, but not the poorer African nations? I don't think people have a clue, really, do you have a view?

Make your view known. - speak up now.

What about tackling the rich drug companies who refuse to allow cheap drugs in the third world countries because it may affect their profits? What about the rich oil companies who pay out vast amounts to the corrupt leaderships, to get access to the oil, without a care for the millions dieing with incomes of less than a $1 a day.

African countries statistics                                                  compared to the European Union

(GDP per capita USD $) in 2002

Over $10,000 – South Africa

Over $7,500  -   Botswana, Seychelles

Over $5,000  -   Namibia, Tunisia, Gabon, Libya and Algeria

Over $4,000  -  Swaziland and Egypt

Over $3,000  -  Morocco

Over $2,500  -  Lesotho, Equatorial Guinea

Over $2,000  -  Guinea, Zimbabwe, Ghana

Over $1,500  -  Gambia, Angola, Mauretania and Senegal

Over $1,000 -  Djibouti, Central African Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Uganda, Rwanda, Benin, Kenya, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Chad and Libya.

Over $500 – Republic of Congo, Mali, Nigeria, Zambia, Niger, Madagascar, Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Dem Rep of Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Somalia, Burundi and Sierra Leone (these figures are even lower according to the Guardian on 1st June 2005)

What is most striking is the poorer countries in Europe, i.e. Bulgaria and Romania are at a similar level of Gross Domestic Product to the richest nation in Africa, i.e. South Africa.

Remember, this is an average figure per member of the population, so an average person in the United Kingdom is worth about $30,000 a year, whereas someone in Eritrea has a gross product of $500 annually, that is $10 a week. It's an average, many are richer, many are much poorer.

The United Nations' Human Development Report 2003 (of 175 countries) found that positions 151 (Gambia) to 175 (Sierra Leone) were taken up entirely by African nations. As in this schematic picture of Africa; and their place in the UNHDP.

$1 is the daily income of half of Africa's people

 The Guardian Newspaper sources a special Africa report on 12 of the African nations.

[I have to note, these figures are roughly double the World Bank figures for two years earlier - in some cases - ?]

1. Sierra Leone - Population 5.3 million. GDP per capita $172 , Life expectancy at birth 37.4 , External debt $1.5 billion . Heavily indebted, approximately 50% of its GDP. An ex-British colony with 89% of its population in extreme poverty by the end of the civil war in 2002.

2. Sudan - Population 33.5 million; GDP per capita $347 , Life expectancy at birth 58.4 , External debt $21 billion .Heavily indebted, Civil war for past 21 years, Peace talks ongoing. Military dictatorship followed by elections boycotted by opposition. Conflict in Darfur region displaced 1.5 million and killed tens of thousands. Pro-governement Arab militias accused of genocide.

3. Liberia - Population 3.4 million. GDP per capita $192 , Life expectancy at birth 347.1 , External debt $3.8 billion . Heavily indebted, Internal wars to 2003 displaced third of the populus. UN bar on sales of diamond and timber sales by combatants. Elections due in October 2005.

4. Nigeria - Population 135.6 million. GDP per capita $275 , Life expectancy at birth 45.3 , External debt $30.55 billion . Heavily indebted, Ex-British colony then military dictatorship. Abacha regime stole more than $2 billion. Democracy since 1999.

5. Chad Population 8.6 million. GDP per capita $247.70  Life expectancy at birth 48.4 , External debt $1.1 billion . Heavily indebted (48% of GDP). Ex-French colony among poorest in World. Stable since General Idriss Delby seized power in 1990 and won 2001 elections. "Social demands vastly exceed new oil income" - IMF.

6. Cameroon - Population 16 million. GDP per capita $600 , Life expectancy at birth 48.1 , External debt $7 billion . Heavily indebted, (40% of GDP). Ex-French protectorate. Relatively stable, but corruptionand Human Rights violations are problems under the rule of President Paul Biya

7. Democratic Republic of Congo - Population 53.2 million. GDP per capita $91 , Life expectancy at birth 45.3  , External debt $11.6  billion . Heavily indebted, Recovering from five year civil war. President Jseph Kabila faces elections in October 2005.

8. Angola - Population 13.5 million. GDP per capita $632 , Life expectancy at birth 36.6 , External debt $10.45 billion . "Reliance on oil-backed loans has burdened the economy" - IMF . Ex-Portuguese colony. 27 years of oil - and diamond - financed civil war ended in 2002. Elections due in 2005.

9. Sao Tome & Principe - Population 200,000; GDP per capita $363 , Life expectancy at birth 65.8 , External debt $318 million . Heavily indebted (900% of GDP) !!! Ex-Portuguese colony on threshold of oil era. Huges signature bonuses expected. Tension over oil and debts led to 2003 coup attempt.

10. Equatorial Guinea - Population 500,000;  GDP per capita $2,756 , Life expectancy at birth 51.7, External debt $248 million . Ex-Spanish colony. President Teodoro Obiang accused of human rights abuses and corruption. Coup attempt in 2003 bu UK financiers.

11. Gabon - Population 1.3 million. GDP per capita $4378 , Life expectancy at birth 52.9 , External debt $3.8 billion . Ex-French colony. President Omar Bongo in power for 38 years. "Wealth highly uneven" IMF

12. Congo - Brazzaville - Population 3.8 million. GDP per capita $688 , Life expectancy at birth 51.6 , External debt $6.4 billion  Heavily indebted. (193% of GDP) !!! Peace agreement with armed opposition groups 2003 followed destructive internal wars. Half of state revenue goes on debt interest.

Big  companies are gathering to exploit the riches. Some of the potentially wealthiest lands have the poorest people, the worst records of coups and conflicts and a culture of corruption.

Glossary :

$1 is the daily income of half of Africa's people

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

 home