Top Themes Subsaharan Africa

Theme 1 The region is characterized by variable rainfall and generally low-fertility soils.

Theme 2 Hundreds of ethnic groups and languages spoken make the region very culturally diverse (over 1,000 languages).

Theme 3 Most of Subsaharan Africa’s people depend on farming for their livelihood (70% rural).

Theme 4 Africa is by most measures the poorest continent, with 19 of the poorest 23 countries on the continent. Malnutrition and the spread of disease are problems in many areas.

Theme 5 The country borders that were drawn up during the European colonial days have caused many problems.

Theme 6 This region is rich in raw materials vital to industrialized economies, but Africa’s population has little access to the goods and services of the world economy.

Theme 7 Patterns of raw material exploitation and export routes set up during the colonial days still prevail. Interregional and international connections are poor.

Theme 8 War and famines have dislocated many people in the region. In most years Africa has the largest refugee population in the world.

Theme 9 Government mismanagement and poor leadership afflict many of the economies of Subsaharan Africa.