1. Economic geography of Africa
SSWG6 Examine the spatial distribution of major economic systems and analyze the role geography plays in economic development.
a. Compare the levels of economic development of countries in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and key demographic and social indicators (e.g., literacy rate, life expectancy, gender, access to healthcare, and UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030).

2. Economic Features
Abundant in resources, low in industry & manufacturing
Conflict over natural resources
Ex. Oil in Cameroon & Chad
Agriculture is the single most important economic activity in Africa
Deforestation because need materials for export

3. East Africa’s Economy – Agriculture
History of trade that still remains today
Agriculture & tourism key economic sectors
60% rural = production of cash crops
Grown for direct sale (i.e., sugar, tea, coffee)
Food grown for export, not region = famine
Economy is changing as people leave for cities
More economic opportunity

4. East Africa’s Economy - Tourism
Vast wildlife parks in Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania
Grazing areas for animals to protect them from hunters
Animals were being killed at rapid rate
Growing population = need more food = animals safe on reserves = famine

5. North Africa Economies of oil – “Black Gold”
Began as agricultural economy, now cash crops & mining
Ex. Algeria = oil is #1 export, not agricultural products
Ex. Libya = 99% exports are oil
These 2 countries supply much of EU with oil
Issues = no education & training for these jobs = high paying jobs given to foreign workers = high native unemployment

6. GDP & West Africa
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) = measures economic output of country
GDP per Capita – divides # of people by economic activity
Economies vary from relatively strong to weak

7. West Africa – Ghana & Sierra Leone
Export of gold, diamonds & oil
Upgrading agricultural sector
GDP per capita is almost twice that of poorest African nations
Politically stable = economically stable
Producer of world’s highest quality diamonds
Political instability & civil war = economy in ruins
Uneducated population = cannot work high paying jobs
Few roads/infrastructure

8. Economic Legacy of Colonialism – Central Africa
Economy still recovering from effects of colonialism
Loss of resources
Disruption of political systems
Cultural/ethnic oppression
Resources were exported, so no infrastructure/education built

9. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Huge amounts of copper, diamonds & gold
Mobutu Sese Seko ( ) – business under national control so he could profit = harmed economy
Slowly beginning to build infrastructure

10. Education & the Economy
Little to no education = unqualified for jobs = no money
Governments working to improve education systems
700 languages in Central Africa but only 1 language taught in school = communication is poor

11. South Africa’s Economy
Most developed economies in all of Africa
Attempting to raise standard of living for black citizens – effect of apartheid
Countries would not trade w/ South Africa b/c of policy of apartheid = poor development
2 economic classes = educated, wealthy elite & poor, uneducated lower class
Unequal land distribution & housing shortages
Not enough food production = famine
Diamonds in Botswana = profitable, but unequally distributed
AIDS killing skilled workers

12. Today’s Issues
Little manufacturing, provide raw materials to rest of industrialized world
Political instability = little to no economic growth
Destroyed environment from resource extraction
Africa = less than 5% of worlds GDP = low economic activity
Improving education & building infrastructure (i.e. roads)
Country in debt from borrowing money to build business

13. One-Commodity Country
Commodity – agricultural or mining product that can be sold
Value varies day to day, can be devastating to economy
Need to diversify
Create variety in economic growth & stability