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.
By 1914, almost 90% of the African continent was under European control, with only a few states retaining sovereignty.
In 1922, the record for the highest-ever recorded temperature, in Libya, was 58 °C (136 °F).
In 1950, the population of Africa was 229 million.
In 1955, the first Sudanese Civil War began, lasting until 1972 and resulting in approximately 3 million deaths.
From 1956, South Africa implemented a system of racial segregation known as apartheid.
In March 1957, Ghana became the first sub-Saharan colony to be granted independence.
1960 is known as the 'Year of Africa' due to the wave of decolonization that took place across the continent.
In 1963, newly independent African states established the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was the predecessor to the African Union.
In 1965, Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom.
The average poor person in sub-Saharan Africa was poorer in 2003 than in 1973.
Between 1975 and 1977, over a million colonials returned to Portugal alone.
In 1975, Portugal's overseas presence in sub-Saharan Africa ended after the Estado Novo regime was overthrown.
Between 1975 and 1977, over a million colonials returned to Portugal alone.
In 1980, Rhodesia was internationally recognized as an independent state, Zimbabwe, after black nationalists gained power.
In 1981, a hypothesis suggested that the name 'Africa' stems from the Berber word 'ifri' meaning 'cave'.
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.
Between 1983 and 1985, there was a major famine in Ethiopia, killing up to 1.2 million people.
In 1983, the second Sudanese Civil War began, lasting until 2005 and contributing to approximately 3 million deaths.
Between 1983 and 1985, a major famine in Ethiopia resulted in up to 1.2 million deaths.
Between 1990 and 2018, the African continent as a whole has trended towards more democratic governance.
In 1990, the population of Africa was 630 million.
In 1994, a genocide in Rwanda resulted in up to 800,000 deaths.
From 1995 to 2005, Africa's rate of economic growth increased.
By 1996, the percentage of the population living in poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa increased to 58%.
Kenya gained One-Day International cricket (ODI) status on 10 October 1997.
Around 2000 years ago, approximately 90% of Madagascar's original forests had been destroyed since the arrival of humans.
Around the year 2000, Africa's population surpassed that of the Americas.
Between 2000 and 2014, annual GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa averaged 5.02%.
On June 26, 2001, the African Union (AU) was formed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as its headquarters, consisting of 55 member states.
On July 9, 2002, the African Union (AU) was officially established as the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
In 2002, the civil wars in Angola, Sierra Leone, and Algeria ended.
According to the United Nations' Human Development Report in 2003, the bottom 24 ranked nations (151st to 175th) were all African.
In 2003, the average poor person in sub-Saharan Africa was estimated to live on only 70 cents per day.
South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya jointly hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
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.
In 2005, 50% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa, equating to 380 million people, was living in poverty.
In 2005, Africa's economic growth averaged 5%.
The conflict in Darfur, Sudan, peaked in intensity from 2003 to 2005.
The debt crisis in sub-Saharan Africa was resolved in 2005 with help from the heavily indebted poor countries scheme (HIPC).
In 2007, Chinese companies invested a total of US$1 billion in Africa.
There was a notable spike in violence in Darfur in 2007.
In August 2008, the World Bank announced revised global poverty estimates based on a new international poverty line of $1.25 per day.
In 2008, the food security crisis, which took place after the global financial crisis, pushed 100 million people in Africa into food insecurity.
In 2009, the Boko Haram Insurgency primarily within Nigeria began.
In 2010, South Africa hosted the World Cup tournament, becoming the first African country to do so.
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.
In 2011, Zambia fell back into debt, partially due to the fall in copper prices, but largely due to the misuse of borrowed funds.
In 2012, the median age in Africa was 19.7, significantly lower than the worldwide median age of 30.4.
Between 2013 and 2015, there was another notable spike in violence in Darfur.
In 2013, the record for the highest-ever recorded temperature, in Libya in 1922, was discredited.
Kenya's One-Day International cricket (ODI) status lasted until 30 January 2014.
Since 2014, overall economic growth in Africa has considerably slowed.
Between 2000 and 2014, sub-Saharan Africa doubled its total GDP from $811 billion to $1.63 trillion (constant 2015 USD).
As of 2018, the total fertility rate (children per woman) for Sub-Saharan Africa is 4.7, the highest in the world.
Per the criteria laid out by Lührmann et al. (2018), only Botswana and Mauritius have been consistently democratic for their entire post-colonial history.
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.
From 2020 to 2022, the Tigray War killed an estimated 300,000–500,000 people, primarily due to famine.
As of 2021, Africa had nearly 1.4 billion people, accounting for about 18% of the world's human population.
As of 2021, the population of Africa is estimated at 1.4 billion.
In 2021, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 29% of global births.
As of 2022, most African conflicts have been reduced to low-intensity conflicts.
As of March 2023, 98 African properties are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.
Based on 2024 projections, Africa's population is expected to exceed 3.8 billion people by 2100.
The projected nominal GDP and GDP per capita (at Purchasing Power Parity) in 2025 by the IMF.
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.
In 2055 BC, the 11th dynasty, based in Thebes, conquered the others to form the Middle Kingdom of Egypt.
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