1. Top Themes
Subsaharan Africa

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

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

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

6. 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.

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

8. 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.

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

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

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