History of Africa in Timeline

Africa is the second-largest and second-most populous continent, comprising 20% of Earth's land and housing roughly 18% of the global population (approximately 1.4 billion in 2021). It has the youngest population of all continents. While it's the least wealthy continent per capita, its significant economic expansion, youthful population, and abundant natural resources position it as a crucial player in the global market. Factors such as geography, climate, corruption, colonialism, the Cold War, and neocolonialism have been identified as contributing to its relative lack of wealth.

1914: European Control in Africa

By 1914, almost 90% of the African continent was under European control, with only a few states retaining sovereignty.

1922: Highest Temperature Recorded in Libya

In 1922, the record for the highest-ever recorded temperature, in Libya, was 58 °C (136 °F).

1950: Population of Africa

In 1950, the population of Africa was 229 million.

1951: Libya Gains Independence

In 1951, Libya, formerly an Italian colony, gained its independence.

1955: First Sudanese Civil War

In 1955, the first Sudanese Civil War began, lasting until 1972 and resulting in approximately 3 million deaths.

1956: Apartheid in South Africa

From 1956, South Africa implemented a system of racial segregation known as apartheid.

1956: Tunisia and Morocco Win Independence

In 1956, Tunisia and Morocco won their independence from France.

March 1957: Ghana's Independence

In March 1957, Ghana became the first sub-Saharan colony to be granted independence.

1960: Year of Africa

1960 is known as the 'Year of Africa' due to the wave of decolonization that took place across the continent.

1963: Establishment of the Organisation of African Unity

In 1963, newly independent African states established the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was the predecessor to the African Union.

1965: Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence

In 1965, Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom.

1972: End of First Sudanese Civil War

In 1972, the first Sudanese Civil War ended.

1972: Expulsion of Indians from Uganda

In 1972, the large Indian community in Uganda was expelled by the dictator Idi Amin, though many have since returned.

1973: Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

The average poor person in sub-Saharan Africa was poorer in 2003 than in 1973.

1975: Return of Colonials to Portugal

Between 1975 and 1977, over a million colonials returned to Portugal alone.

1975: End of Portuguese Colonial Rule

In 1975, Portugal's overseas presence in sub-Saharan Africa ended after the Estado Novo regime was overthrown.

1977: Return of Colonials to Portugal

Between 1975 and 1977, over a million colonials returned to Portugal alone.

1980: Zimbabwe's Independence

In 1980, Rhodesia was internationally recognized as an independent state, Zimbabwe, after black nationalists gained power.

1981: Berber Word Hypothesis

In 1981, a hypothesis suggested that the name 'Africa' stems from the Berber word 'ifri' meaning 'cave'.

1981: Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 1981, approximately 50% of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa was living in poverty ($1.25 per day), which amounted to about 200 million people.

1983: Ethiopian Famine

Between 1983 and 1985, there was a major famine in Ethiopia, killing up to 1.2 million people.

1983: Second Sudanese Civil War

In 1983, the second Sudanese Civil War began, lasting until 2005 and contributing to approximately 3 million deaths.

1985: Ethiopian Famine

Between 1983 and 1985, a major famine in Ethiopia resulted in up to 1.2 million deaths.

1990: Trend towards Democratic Governance

Between 1990 and 2018, the African continent as a whole has trended towards more democratic governance.

1990: Population of Africa

In 1990, the population of Africa was 630 million.

1990: Economic Growth in Africa

Prior to 1990, only a handful of African countries succeeded in obtaining rapid economic growth, with exceptions including Libya and Equatorial Guinea.

1994: Rwandan Genocide

In 1994, a genocide in Rwanda resulted in up to 800,000 deaths.

1994: End of Apartheid in South Africa

In 1994, apartheid ended in South Africa.

1995: Economic Growth in Africa

From 1995 to 2005, Africa's rate of economic growth increased.

1995: South Africa Wins Rugby World Cup

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 1995.

1996: Increased Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

By 1996, the percentage of the population living in poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa increased to 58%.

October 1997: Kenya's ODI Status

Kenya gained One-Day International cricket (ODI) status on 10 October 1997.

2000: Spread of Sorghum to India

Around 2000 BC, the cultivation of Sorghum, which was first domesticated in Eastern Sudan, gradually spread to India.

2000: Forest Destruction in Madagascar

Around 2000 years ago, approximately 90% of Madagascar's original forests had been destroyed since the arrival of humans.

2000: Africa's population surpasses the Americas

Around the year 2000, Africa's population surpassed that of the Americas.

2000: Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Between 2000 and 2014, annual GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa averaged 5.02%.

June 2001: Formation of the African Union

On June 26, 2001, the African Union (AU) was formed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as its headquarters, consisting of 55 member states.

July 2002: Official Establishment of the African Union

On July 9, 2002, the African Union (AU) was officially established as the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

2002: End of Civil Wars

In 2002, the civil wars in Angola, Sierra Leone, and Algeria ended.

2002: Morocco Cup

Morocco hosted the 2002 Morocco Cup.

2003: UN Human Development Report

According to the United Nations' Human Development Report in 2003, the bottom 24 ranked nations (151st to 175th) were all African.

2003: Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2003, the average poor person in sub-Saharan Africa was estimated to live on only 70 cents per day.

2003: End of Civil Wars

In 2003, the civil war in Liberia ended and the Second Congo War ended.

2003: Start of Darfur Conflict

In 2003, the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, began.

2003: Cricket World Cup

South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya jointly hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

July 2004: Relocation of the Pan-African Parliament

In July 2004, the African Union's Pan-African Parliament (PAP) was relocated to Midrand, South Africa, while the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights remained in Addis Ababa.

2005: Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2005, 50% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa, equating to 380 million people, was living in poverty.

2005: Average Economic Growth in Africa

In 2005, Africa's economic growth averaged 5%.

2005: End of Civil Wars

In 2005, the civil wars in Sudan and Burundi ended.

2005: End of Second Sudanese Civil War

In 2005, the second Sudanese Civil War ended.

2005: Peak of Darfur Conflict Intensity

The conflict in Darfur, Sudan, peaked in intensity from 2003 to 2005.

2005: Debt Crisis Resolved

The debt crisis in sub-Saharan Africa was resolved in 2005 with help from the heavily indebted poor countries scheme (HIPC).

2007: Chinese Investment in Africa

In 2007, Chinese companies invested a total of US$1 billion in Africa.

2007: South Africa Wins Rugby World Cup

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2007.

2007: Spike in Violence in Darfur

There was a notable spike in violence in Darfur in 2007.

August 2008: World Bank Revised Poverty Estimates

In August 2008, the World Bank announced revised global poverty estimates based on a new international poverty line of $1.25 per day.

2008: Food Security Crisis

In 2008, the food security crisis, which took place after the global financial crisis, pushed 100 million people in Africa into food insecurity.

2009: Start of Boko Haram Insurgency

In 2009, the Boko Haram Insurgency primarily within Nigeria began.

2010: South Africa Hosts World Cup

In 2010, South Africa hosted the World Cup tournament, becoming the first African country to do so.

2011: HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2011, Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for an estimated 69 percent of all people living with HIV and 70 percent of all AIDS deaths.

2011: Zambia Debt Crisis

In 2011, Zambia fell back into debt, partially due to the fall in copper prices, but largely due to the misuse of borrowed funds.

2012: Median Age in Africa

In 2012, the median age in Africa was 19.7, significantly lower than the worldwide median age of 30.4.

2013: Spike in Violence in Darfur

Between 2013 and 2015, there was another notable spike in violence in Darfur.

2013: Discrediting of Temperature Record

In 2013, the record for the highest-ever recorded temperature, in Libya in 1922, was discredited.

January 2014: Kenya Loses ODI Status

Kenya's One-Day International cricket (ODI) status lasted until 30 January 2014.

2014: Slowdown of Economic Growth

Since 2014, overall economic growth in Africa has considerably slowed.

2015: GDP Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Between 2000 and 2014, sub-Saharan Africa doubled its total GDP from $811 billion to $1.63 trillion (constant 2015 USD).

2018: Fertility Rate in Sub-Saharan Africa

As of 2018, the total fertility rate (children per woman) for Sub-Saharan Africa is 4.7, the highest in the world.

2018: Democracy in Africa

Per the criteria laid out by Lührmann et al. (2018), only Botswana and Mauritius have been consistently democratic for their entire post-colonial history.

2019: Fertility Rates in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2019, all countries in sub-Saharan Africa had TFRs (average number of children) above replacement level and accounted for 27.1% of global livebirths.

2019: South Africa Wins Rugby World Cup

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

2020: Start of Tigray War

From 2020 to 2022, the Tigray War killed an estimated 300,000–500,000 people, primarily due to famine.

2021: Africa's Population

As of 2021, Africa had nearly 1.4 billion people, accounting for about 18% of the world's human population.

2021: Population of Africa

As of 2021, the population of Africa is estimated at 1.4 billion.

2021: Global Births in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2021, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 29% of global births.

2022: Reduction of African Conflicts

As of 2022, most African conflicts have been reduced to low-intensity conflicts.

2022: FIFA World Cup in Qatar

In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Morocco was the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA Men's World Cup.

March 2023: UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa

As of March 2023, 98 African properties are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

2023: South Africa Wins Rugby World Cup

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2023.

2024: Africa's Projected Population

Based on 2024 projections, Africa's population is expected to exceed 3.8 billion people by 2100.

2025: Projected GDP

The projected nominal GDP and GDP per capita (at Purchasing Power Parity) in 2025 by the IMF.

2050: Projected Births in Africa

The increase in the number of babies born in Africa compared to the rest of the world is expected to reach approximately 37% in the year 2050.

2055: Middle Kingdom of Egypt

In 2055 BC, the 11th dynasty, based in Thebes, conquered the others to form the Middle Kingdom of Egypt.

Mentioned in this timeline

Nigeria officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a West...

Qatar is a country located on the Qatar Peninsula in...

Sudan officially the Republic of the Sudan is a country...

India officially the Republic of India is a South Asian...

Morocco officially the Kingdom of Morocco is a North African...

The World Bank is an international financial institution offering loans...