Algeria
Capital city: Algiers
Head of State: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Head of Government : Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia
Population (thousands): 3,580
Land area (thousands of km2): 2,382
Population density (pop/km2): 15
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 7,097
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 3.7%
Oil and gas are the backbone of Algeria’s economy. But over-reliance on hydrocarbons and decades of authoritarian government, high military spending and resistance to inward investment, leaves Africa’s largest country with a narrow economic base and challenged by poverty, youth unemployment and economic unrest.
Angola
Capital city: Luanda
Head of State: President José Eduardo dos Santos
Head of Government: Prime Minister Paulo Kassoma
Population (thousands): 19,618
Land area (thousands of km2): 1,247
Population density (pop/km2): 16
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 5,876
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 11%
Angola’s post-civil war boom, led by oil and diamond exports, and 17 percent annual growth, has recovered after stalling in 2008. But reliance on oil prices, failure to revive agriculture – pre-war Angola was the breadbasket of Southern Africa – and endemic corruption has left huge wealth disparity, poverty and deprivation. José Eduardo Dos Santos’ iconic, 34-year presidency goes on, despite resignation rumours.
Benin
Capital city: Porto-Novo
Head of State: President Yayi Boni
Head of Government: Prime Minister Pascal Irenée Koukpaki
Population (thousands): 9,100
Land area (thousands of km2): 115
Population density (pop/km2): 79
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,646
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 3.5%
Squeezed on the west coast between Togo and Nigeria, Benin boasts political stability and strong civil institutions, despite underlying weaknesses in development and infrastructure. Cotton still accounts for 40 percent of GDP and 80 percent of exports. But, as population increases outstrip economic growth, Benin is targeting new foreign investment, tourism, agriculture, food processing and IT projects.
Botswana
Capital city: Gaborone
Head of State: President Ian Khama
Population (thousands): 2,031
Land area (thousands of km2): 582
Population density (pop/km2): 3
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 13,056
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 3.9%
Botswana, landlocked and dominated by the Kalahari Desert, has transformed itself from one of Africa’s poorest countries into a vital, middle-income economy, boasting high economic growth, stable government and financial institutions. Reliance on diamond mining – up to 80 percent of exports – is being countered by new development of tourism, financial services and agriculture.
Burkina Faso
Capital city: Ouagadougou
Head of State: President Blaise Compaoré
Head of Government: Prime Minister Luc Adolphe Tiao
Population (thousands): 16,968
Land area (thousands of km2): 274
Population density (pop/km2): 62
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,313
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 5.8%
Gold has established itself as Burkina Faso’s biggest source of export revenue, thanks to government policies of privatisation and legislation. But the 90 percent of Burkinabe dependent on subsistence agriculture are challenged by periodic droughts and increasingly high population density.
Burundi
Capital city: Bujumbura
Head of State: President Pierre Nkurunziza
Population (thousands): 8,575
Land area (thousands of km2): 28
Population density (pop/km2): 308
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 418
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 3.2%
With 90 percent of the population engaged in agriculture and almost all foreign exchange earnings from coffee and tea, Burundi’s economic success remains intimately tied to the weather and international prices for its two main exports. The residues of 12 years of civil war, high poverty rates and a poor transportation network are the main challenges facing Burundi’s planned economic reforms.
Cameroon
Capital city: Yaounde
Head of State: President Paul Biya
Head of Government: Prime Minister Philémon Yang
Population (thousands): 20,030
Land area (thousands of km2): 476
Population density (pop/km2): 42
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 2,450
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 3.2%
Nestled on the coast of western central Africa, Cameroon has enjoyed a stability that has permitted the exploitation of its modest oil resources and the development of agriculture under favourable agricultural conditions. Yet, Cameroon still struggles with stagnant per capita income, inequality, corruption, and one of the worst business environments in the world.
Cape Verde
Capital city: Praia
Head of State: President Jorge Carlos Fonseca
Head of Government: Prime Minister José Maria Neves
Population (thousands): 501
Land area (thousands of km2): 4
Population density (pop/km2): 124
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 4,789
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 6.1%
Cape Verde’s ten islands off the West African coast continue to endure cycles of long-term droughts, a poor natural resource base and – with expatriates outnumbering the domestic population – an economy heavily reliant on remittances. Future prospects depend on development of tourism, remittances and progressing the government’s development plan.
Central African Republic
Capital city: Bangui
Head of State: President François Bozizé
Head of Government: Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye
Population (thousands): 4,487
Land area (thousands of km2): 623
Population density (pop/km2): 7
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 749
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 2%
The landlocked Central African Republic continues to be de-stabilised by rebel groups, and income distribution remains extraordinarily unequal. Timber and diamonds are top export earners, but the predominant agricultural economy remains undermined by the poor transportation system, largely unskilled work force and misdirected economic policies.
Chad
Capital city: N’Djamena
Head of State: President Idriss Déby
Head of Government: Prime Minister Joseph Djimrangar Dadnadji
Population (thousands): 11,525
Land area (thousands of km2): 1,284
Population density (pop/km2): 9
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 2,155
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 10.1%
Rich in gold, uranium and more recently discovered oil, Chad’s largely agricultural economy will be bolstered by foreign direct investments into the oil sector. Economic growth is, however, challenged by inadequate infrastructure, poor health and a below-par educational system due to three decades of civil war.
Comoros
Capital city: Moroni
Head of State: President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi
Population (thousands): 754
Land area (thousands of km2): 2
Population density (pop/km2): 337
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,149
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 1.8%
After enduring more than 20 coups and attempted coups since gaining independence, the three Indian Ocean islands of Comoros remain one of the world’s poorest countries. With a predominantly agricultural economy, few natural resources, high unemployment and a government lacking a comprehensive strategy, meaningful change looks unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Republic of Congo
Capital city: Brazzaville
Head of State: President Denis Sassou-Nguesso
Head of Government: Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba
Population (thousands): 4,140
Land area (thousands of km2): 342
Population density (pop/km2): 12
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in U $): 4,712
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.9%
Plagued for decades by civil war and militia conflicts, the Republic of Congo will need new offshore oil finds to sustain growth of its mixed economy. Growing debt burden, chronic revenue revenue shortfalls and an uneasy internal peace undermine the current administration’s ability to reduce poverty and stimulate recovery.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Capital city: Kinshasa
Head of State: President Joseph Kabila
Head of Government: Prime Minister Augustin Katumba Mwanke
Population (thousands): 67,758
Land area (thousands of km2): 2,345
Population density (pop/km2): 29
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 352
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 6.1%
Vast in size and with immense potential wealth, Democratic Republic of Congo is slowly recovering from decades of decline caused by systemic corruption, instability and conflict. Renewed activity in the mining sector – the source of most export income – boosted growth to around seven percent in 2010 -2012.
Côte d’Ivoire
Capital city: Yamoussoukro
Head of State: President Alassane Dramane Ouattara
Head of Government: Prime Minister Jeannot Ahoussou-Kouadio
Population (thousands): 20,153
Land area (thousands of km2): 322
Population density (pop/km2): 62
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,686
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 0.7%
Despite the coups and political instability that characterise its recent political history, Côte d’Ivoire is rich by West African standards, thanks to cocoa, oil and coffee. But the economy remains heavily reliant on agriculture, as political turmoil undermines foreign investment and economic growth.
Djibouti
Capital city: Djibouti
Head of State: President Ismail Omar Guelleh
Head of Government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed
Population (thousands): 906
Land area (thousands of km2): 23
Population density (pop/km2): 39
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 2,427
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.1%
Djibouti’s location at the mouth of the Red Sea is its greatest economic asset as an important transhipment port for East Africa, 70 percent of which originates in Ethiopia. French and US military bases should guarantee the foreign assistance upon which this largely barren country relies.
Egypt
Capital city: Cairo
Head of State: President Mohammed Morsi
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hesham Kandil
Population (thousands): 82,537
Land area (thousands of km2): 1
Population density (pop/km2): 82
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 6,293
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.9%
Egypt remains dogged by post-Arab Spring political uncertainty and the fear of fiscal and balance of payments crises in 2013. Tourism, manufacturing and construction are the worst hit sub-sectors and broader economic growth is likely to remain slow for the next few years.
Equatorial Guinea
Capital city: Malabo
Head of State: President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Head of Government: Prime Minister Ignacio Milam Tang
Population (thousands): 720
Land area (thousands of km2): 28
Population density (pop/km2): 26
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 35,797
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 11.2%
The oil production boom made Equatorial Guinea one of the world’s fast-growing economies, but few of its people have seen their living standards improve. Ranked low in the UN human development Index, Equatorial Guinea’s paradox of plenty looks to be a tenacious curse.
Eritrea
Capital city: Asmara
Head of State: President Isaias Afewerki
Population (thousands): 5,415
Land area (thousands of km2): 118
Population density (pop/km2): 46
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 742
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 0.7%
Economic growth for the small country of Eritrea is still driven by Canadian copper and gold mining companies. Restrictive economic policies and excessive military spending continue, instead of wide-scale development and investment needed to combat unemployment, illiteracy and poverty.
Ethiopia
Capital city: Addis Ababa
Head of State: President Girma Woldegiorgis
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn
Population (thousands): 84,734
Land area (thousands of km2): 1,104
Population density (pop/km2): 77
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,342
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 9.7%
Ethiopia’s predominantly agricultural economy – accounting for 85 percent of employment and 45 percent of GDP – still struggles with poor cultivation and frequent droughts. Its high single-digit growth is driven by state projects, including commitment to the controversial, multi-billion dollar Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile.
Gabon
Capital city: Libreville
Head of State: President Ali Ben Bongo
Head of Government: Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima
Population (thousands): 1,534
Land area (thousands of km2): 268
Population density (pop/km2): 6
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 16,419
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 3.6%
After taking the reins of one of Africa’s most stable and prosperous countries from his father in 2009, Ben Bongo’s government continues to invest in human resources and infrastructure. The economy has grown steadily thanks to Gabon’s extensive timber, manganese and, especially, offshore oil, but huge income inequality persists.
The Gambia
Capital city: Banjul
Head of State: President Yahya Jammeh
Population (thousands): 1,776
Land area (thousands of km2): 11
Population density (pop/km2): 157
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 2,345
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 6.1%
Unemployment remains high for the snake-like country of The Gambia, where 75 percent of the population depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. As economic progress hinges on bilateral aid, The Gambia will need to ease donor concerns about its debt burden and fiscal management.
Ghana
Capital city: Accra
Head of State: President John Dramani Mahama
Population (thousands): 24,966
Land area (thousands of km2): 239
Population density (pop/km2): 105
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 3,058
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 7%
After 25 years of relatively sound economic management and sustained reductions in poverty levels, Ghana is a model for political and economic reform. Major sources of foreign exchange include gold, cocoa – Ghana is the world’s second largest producer – and oil production from recently discovered offshore reserves, which should boost the economy.
Guinea
Capital city: Conakry
Head of State: President Alpha Condé
Head of Government: Prime Minister Mohamed Said Fofana
Population (thousands): 10,222
Land area (thousands of km2): 246
Population density (pop/km2): 42
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,334
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 2.4%
Marred by 50 years of authoritarian rule, a recent parliamentary reshuffle marked Guinea’s first all-civilian government. But to exploit major mineral, hydropower and agricultural resources, Guinea must regain investor confidence by tackling corruption, poor infrastructure and political uncertainty.
Guinea-Bissau
Capital city: Bissau
Head of State: President Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo
Head of Government: Prime Minister Rui Duarte de Barros
Population (thousands): 1,547
Land area (thousands of km2): 36
Population density (pop/km2): 43
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,240
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 2.6%
Political and military upheaval wrecked Guinea-Bissau’s infrastructure and economy, which relies mainly on farming and fishing. Debt relief of $1.2 billion from the IMF, coupled with the Paris Club writing off most of the national debt, brought respite to one of the world’s poorest countries.
Kenya
Capital city: Nairobi
Head of State: President Uhuru Kenyatta
Population (thousands): 41,610
Land area (thousands of km2): 593
Population density (pop/km2): 70
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,916
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.6%
An oil strike last year should rescue Kenya’s position as East Africa’s largest economy, which was threatened by low infrastructure investment. Now, with the opportunity to balance a growing trade deficit, Kenyans hope that oil profits can also help fix high unemployment, currency depreciation and corruption.
Lesotho
Capital city: Maseru
Head of State: King Letsie III
Head of Government: Prime Minister Thomas Motsoahae Thabane
Population (thousands): 2,194
Land area (thousands of km2): 30
Population density (pop/km2): 72
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,152
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4%
Lesotho, surrounded by and economically integrated with South Africa, is sensitive to cross-border influences. Growth – exceeding four percent per year in 2010-12 – will be aided by major infrastructure projects, but impeded by weaknesses in manufacturing and agriculture, the biggest sources of employment.
Liberia
Capital city: Monrovia
Head of State: President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
Population (thousands): 4,129
Land area (thousands of km2): 111
Population density (pop/km2): 37
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 650
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 2%
Civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia’s economy, which now relies heavily on foreign aid revenue. Rebuilding the economy will rely on international donors to finance the change desperately needed to help an estimated 80 percent of the population who live in poverty.
Libya
Capital city: Tripoli
Head of State: President of the National Transitional Council Moustapha Abdel Jalil
Head of Government: Prime Minister Ali Zeidan
Population (thousands): 6,423
Land area (thousands of km2): 1,760
Population density (pop/km2): 4
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 7,884
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 0.7%
A small population and oil wealth – accounting for 95 percent of export earnings – give Libya one of Africa’s highest GDPs per capita, though most citizens remain poor due to low investment in infrastructure or economy during Gaddafi’s reign. Paralysed during the uprisings, the economy will grow, driven almost exclusively by the energy sector.
Madagascar
Capital city: Antananarivo
Head of State: President of the High Authority of Transition Andry Rajoelina
Head of Government: Prime Minister Omer Beriziky
Population (thousands): 21,315
Land area (thousands of km2): 587
Population density (pop/km2): 36
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 901
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 3.9%
Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island and the leading producer of vanilla. Predominantly agricultural, the economy should grow in 2013, due to expanding mining and agricultural sectors. Elections in 2013 may be a crucial step towards resolving the current political gridlock.
Malawi
Capital city: Lilongwe
Head of State: President Joyce Banda
Population (thousands): 15,381
Land area (thousands of km2): 118
Population density (pop/km2): 130
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 922
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 6.2%
Population growth, corruption, HIV/AIDS and pressure on agricultural lands pose major problems for landlocked and largely agriculturally based Malawi. Agricultural produce – especially tobacco, which accounts for more than half of exports – is key to sustaining Malawi’s economic growth.
Mali
Capital city: Bamako
Head of State: President Dioncouda Traoré
Head of Government: Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra
Population (thousands): 15,840
Land area (thousands of km2): 1,240
Population density (pop/km2): 13
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,148
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.8%
Mali, among the poorest countries in the world, experienced rapid growth after the 1990s, but was slowed by the global recession and a military coup in 2012. With an economy dominated by agriculture and gold mining, Mali’s fiscal status is dependent on international commodity prices.
Mauritania
Capital city: Nouakchott
Head of State: President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
Head of Government: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf
Population (thousands): 3,542
Land area (thousands of km2): 1,026
Population density (pop/km2): 3
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 2,539
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.5%
Oil prospects have been disappointing for the desert nation of Mauritania, where half the population rely on agriculture and livestock. Economic growth was around 5 percent in 2010-12, mostly driven by rising gold, copper, oil and iron ore prices. Poverty, health and education are key state priorities.
Mauritius
Capital city: Port Louis
Head of State: President Anerood Jugnauth
Head of Government: Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam
Population (thousands): 1,307
Land area (thousands of km2): 2
Population density (pop/km2): 640
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 14,689
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.2%
The island of Mauritius is one of the most successful democracies in the developing world, with a very good record of growth, experiencing about 4.5 percent from 2006 2010. The economy rests on tourism, textiles, financial services and sugar cane, grown on 90 percent of the cultivated land area.
Morocco
Capital city: Rabat
Head of State: King Mohamed VI
Head of Government: Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane
Population (thousands): 32,273
Land area (thousands of km2): 446 (Excluding Western Sahara)
Population density (pop/km2): 45
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 5,291
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.8%
King Mohammed VI should be proud of his country’s open, market-oriented economy as it continues on a path of steady growth and low inflation. While Morocco has capitalised on its proximity to Europe, the EU’s economic difficulties contributed to an economic slowdown in 2012. High unemployment, poverty and illiteracy are still major challenges.
Mozambique
Capital city: Maputo
Head of State: President Armando Guebuza
Head of Government: Prime Minister Dr. Alberto Vaquina
Population (thousands): 23,930
Land area (thousands of km2): 802
Population density (pop/km2): 30
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,117
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 7.3%
In spite of macro-economic reforms, donor assistance and political stability since independence in 1975, Mozambique still depends on foreign assistance, with 54 percent of the population below the poverty line. Real growth remained strong in 2010-12 at seven percent, but over-reliance on aluminium sales – a third of exports – exposes the economy to volatile international prices.
Namibia
Capital city: Windhoek
Head of State: President Hifikepunye Pohamba
Head of Government: Prime Minister Nahas Angula
Population (thousands): 324
Land area (thousands of km2): 824
Population density (pop/km2): 3
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 6,700
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 5%
Dry and sparsely populated, Namibia has a high GDP for the region and yet one of the world’s most unequal income distributions. Mining dominates the economy with rich diamond and zinc deposits, some gold and plenty of uranium, but the recent discovery of large reserves of oil and gas is expected to drive the economy forward.
Niger
Capital city: Niamey
Head of State: President Mohamadou Issoufou
Head of Government: Prime Minister Brigi Rafini
Population (thousands): 16,069
Land area (thousands of km2): 1,267
Population density (pop/km2): 13
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 756
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.9%
Vast, landlocked and largely arid, Niger, which is on the edge of the Sahara desert, is among the world’s poorest countries, with an economy based on subsistence agriculture. Its main export is uranium and its hopes of economic relief hinge on the outcome of current exploration for oil and gold.
Nigeria
Capital city: Abuja
Head of State: President Goodluck Jonathan
Population (thousands): 162,471
Land area (thousands of km2): 924
Population density (pop/km2): 176
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 2,471
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 7.5%
The 2007 general elections saw the first transfer of civilian-to-civilian power in Nigeria’s history. The challenge to Africa’s most populous state is to reform an economy over-reliant on petroleum – 95 percent of foreign exchange – whose benefits have often been lost, due to corruption or mismanagement.
Rwanda
Capital city: Kigali
Head of State: President Paul Kagame
Head of Government: Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi
Population (thousands): 10,943
Land area (thousands of km2): 26
Population density (pop/km2): 415
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,244
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 7.7%
Rwanda has made great strides since 2003, after the genocide that decimated its fragile agricultural economy. It now has annual growth of between seven and eight percent, driven by coffee and tea exports and expanding tourism. Speculation over whether President Paul Kagame, seen by some as the nation’s saviour, might seek constitutional change to run for a third term obsesses critics and allies alike.
São Tomé & Príncipe
Capital city: Sao Tome
Head of State: President Manuel Pinto Da Costa
Head of Government: Prime Minister Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira da Costa
Population (thousands): 169
Land area (thousands of km2): 1
Population density (pop/km2): 175
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,964
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 5.4%
The island economy of São Tomé and Príncipe has been increasingly dependent on cocoa, which has been hit by drought and mismanagement. Welcome relief could come via a joint project to exploit large offshore oil reserves, in a 60:40 split with Nigeria.
Senegal
Capital city: Dakar
Head of State: President Macky Sall
Head of Government: Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye
Population (thousands): 12,768
Land area (thousands of km2): 197
Population density (pop/km2): 65
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,763
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.4%
Senegal’s 1993 economic contraction was a blessing in disguise, as the resulting economic reforms produced five percent real growth during 1995-2007. Phosphate, fertiliser and fish exports remain strong, and iron ore and oil exploration projects continue. Unreliable power supply and high unemployment remain major challenges.
Seychelles
Capital city: Victoria
Head of State: President James Michel
Population (thousands): 87
Land area (thousands of km2): 455
Population density (pop/km2): 192
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 28,407
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 3.3%
Booming tourism has seen per capita output multiply by seven since the Seychelles’ independence in 1976. But now the government is to reduce dependence on the industry that accounts for 70 percent of hard currency earnings by promoting farming, fishing, small-scale manufacturing and deregulating the finance and communication sectors.
Somalia
Capital city: Mogadishu
Head of State: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
Population (thousands): 9,557
Land area (thousands of km2): 638
Population density (pop/km2): 15
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): Figures unavailable
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): Figures unavailable
Despite lacking effective governance, Somalia has maintained a fairly healthy (informal) economy, dominated by remittances, telecommunications and agriculture – which accounts for 40 percent of GDP. Development of gas stations, supermarkets and flights to Europe reflect economic recovery, but are so far confined to Mogadishu.
Sierra Leone
Capital city: Freetown
Head of State: President Ernest Bai Koroma
Population (thousands): 5,997
Land area (thousands of km2): 72
Population density (pop/km2): 84
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 896
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 6.4%
Democracy is slowly finding a footing in once war-torn Sierra Leone. Stability has led to a revival of bauxite and rutile mining, and the country is set to benefit from the recent discovery of several offshore oil reserves. But damage to physical and social infrastructure continues to hinder economic development and extreme income inequality persists.
South Africa
Capital city: Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative)
Head of State: President Jacob Zuma
Population (thousands): 50,460
Land area (thousands of km2): 1,221
Population density (pop/km2): 41
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 10,223
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 3.6%
A nagging hangover from South Africa’s apartheid past includes high inequality, unemployment, poverty and poor public transportation. But macro-economic stability over the last decade has brought great rewards, with a modern infrastructure and very well-developed financial, legal, energy, communications and transport sectors.
South Sudan
Capital city: Juba
Head of State: President Salva Kiir
Population (thousands): Figures unavailable
Land area (thousands of km2): 620
Population density (pop/km2): Figures unavailable
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): Figures unavailable
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): Figures unavailable
South Sudan’s independence jubilation in 2011, after Africa’s longest-running civil war, was short lived. Bilateral deals with Sudan broke down over transhipment fees of oil, devastating the economy in 2012. Deriving 98 percent of its budget from oil revenues, South Sudan must reconcile its differences with Sudan if it is to grapple with problems such as poverty and poor infrastructure.
Sudan
Capital city: Khartoum
Head of State: President Omar al-Bashir
Population (thousands): 44,632
Land area (thousands of km2): 1,886
Population density (pop/km2): 24
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 2,192
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011: 6.6%
The secession of South Sudan in 2011, accounting for 75 percent of Sudan’s oil production, forced the government to generate new sources of income and implement an austerity programme. With 80 percent of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture, the lack of infrastructure is likely to ensure that most Sudanese will remain below the poverty line for years.
Swaziland
Capital city: Lobamba (royal and legislative) Mbabane (administrative)
Head of State: King Mswati III
Head of Government: Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini
Population (thousands): 1,203
Land area (thousands of km2): 17
Population density (pop/km2): 69
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 5,033
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 2.4%
King Mswati III has reneged on promised political reform and greater democracy. The decline of Swaziland’s revenue, due to plummeting exports and a shrinking mining industry, has led to a fiscal crisis. With an estimated 40 percent unemployment, droughts and rampant HIV/AIDS, Swaziland is looking to South Africa for assistance, from which it receives more than 90 percent of its imports.
Tanzania
Capital city: Dar es Salaam (traditional) Dodoma (legislative)
Head of State: President Jakaya Kikwete
Head of Government: Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda
Population (thousands): 46,218
Land area (thousands of km2): 945
Population density (pop/km2): 49
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,602
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 7%
Gold production and tourism powered Tanzania’s GDP growth of six percent from 2009-12, but the economy remains one of the world’s poorest in terms of per capita income, with agriculture employing 80 percent of the workforce. Fiscal stimulus and loosened monetary policy greatly softened the impact of global recession, while banking reforms boosted private sector growth and investment.
Togo
Capital city: Lome`
Head of State: President Faure Gnassingbé
Head of Government: Prime Minister Artheme Seleagodji Abomey
Population (thousands): 6,155
Land area (thousands of km2): 57
Population density (pop/km2): 108
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 966
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 3.1%
Cocoa, coffee and cotton account for about 40 percent of Togo’s export earnings, and it is one of the world’s largest producers of phosphate. The government’s long-term drive for economic reforms has progressed slowly, but the IMF’s cancellation of 95 percent of Togo’s debt, has eased the burden.
Tunisia
Capital city: Tunis
Head of State: President Moncef Marzouki
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hamadi Jbeli
Population (thousands): 10,594
Land area (thousands of km2): 164
Population density (pop/km2): 65
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 9,594
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 4.1%
The ousting of President Ben Ali in 2011 sent Tunisia’s economy into a tailspin. But the economy bounced back, thanks to rising exports, foreign investment and tourism. Challenges include high unemployment and reducing economic disparities between the developed coastal region and impoverished interior.
Uganda
Capital city: Kampala
Head of State: President Yoweri Museveni
Head of Government: Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi
Population (thousands): 34,509
Land area (thousands of km2): 241
Population density (pop/km2): 143
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 1,665
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 6.9%
Agriculture is Uganda’s most important sector, employing over 80 percent of the workforce, with coffee accounting for the bulk of export revenues. Lake Albert oil discoveries are likely to boost state cash inflows as a welcome addition to Uganda’s small deposits of copper, gold and other minerals.
Western Sahara
Capital city: Aauin
Head of State: President Mohamed Abdelaziz
Head of Government: Prime Minister Abdelkader Taleb Oumar
Population (thousands): 538
Land area (thousands of km2): 281
Population density (pop/km2): 4.9
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 2,500
Morocco’s 2700 km defensive sand berm continues to divide the disputed territory of Western Sahara between the roughly 80 percent western portion controlled by Morocco who seek to annex the entire territory, and the 20 percent controlled by the Polisario front who seek independence.
Zambia
Capital city: Lusaka
Head of State: President Michael Sata
Population (thousands): 13,475
Land area (thousands of km2): 753
Population density (pop/km2): 18
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 2,043
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): 6.1%
Despite a real GDP growth from 2005-12 of more than six percent per year, Zambia continues to struggle with stubbornly high poverty rates, a high birth rate, and a high HIV/AIDS burden. Privatisation of copper mines – and record high copper prices – plus a bumper maize crop, helped Zambia rebound quickly from the world economic slowdown.
Zimbabwe
Capital city: Harare
Head of State: President Robert Mugabe
Head of Government: Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
Population (thousands): 12,754
Land area (thousands of km2): 391
Population density (pop/km2): 33
GDP per capita (PPP valuation in US$): 320
Annual real GDP growth (av. over 2003-2011): -3.3%
The former breadbasket of southern Africa, Zimbabwe’s economy lies in tatters after three decades of Mugabe’s rule where poverty, unemployment and political repression are the norm. Nonetheless, the economy recorded five percent growth in 2012, dollarisation has ended hyperinflation and Mugabe’s term ends, in theory, this year.
