History of Africa in Timeline

Africa is the second-largest and second-most populous continent, home to approximately 1.4 billion people as of 2021, representing about 18% of the global population. It has the youngest population of all continents. Despite being the least wealthy continent per capita, Africa's recent economic growth, young population, and abundant natural resources position it as a significant player in the global economy. Factors such as geography, climate, corruption, colonialism, the Cold War, and neocolonialism have been cited as contributing to its relative lack of wealth.

1914: European control in Africa

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

1922: Highest ever recorded temperature in Libya

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

1950: Africa's Population in 1950

In 1950, the population of Africa was 229 million.

1951: Libya gains independence

In 1951, Libya, a former Italian colony, gained independence.

1955: First Sudanese Civil War begins

In 1955, the first Sudanese Civil War began and lasted until 1972.

1956: South Africa implements apartheid

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

1956: Tunisia and Morocco gain independence

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

March 1957: Ghana gains independence

In March 1957, Ghana gained independence, becoming the first of the sub-Saharan colonies to be granted independence.

1960: Year of Africa

The year 1960 was known as the Year of Africa and was marked by waves of decolonization across the continent.

1963: Establishment of the Organisation of African Unity

In 1963, the Organisation of African Unity was established.

1965: Rhodesia declares independence

In 1965, Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom, but was not internationally recognized.

1972: Expulsion of Indians from Uganda

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

1972: First Sudanese Civil War ends

In 1972, the first Sudanese Civil War which began in 1955, ended.

1973: Poverty Levels in Sub-Saharan Africa

Poverty levels in Sub-Saharan Africa were compared to those in 2003, indicating increasing poverty in some areas in 1973.

1975: Return of Colonials to Portugal

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

1975: End of Portuguese overseas presence in Africa

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 gains independence

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

1981: Berber word 'Ifri' hypothesis

In 1981, a hypothesis asserted that the name Africa stems from the Berber word ifri (plural ifran) meaning "cave", in reference to cave dwellers.

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 was around 200 million people.

1983: Major famine in Ethiopia

Between 1983 and 1985, there was a major famine in Ethiopia.

1983: Second Sudanese Civil War begins

In 1983, the second Sudanese Civil War began and lasted until 2005.

1985: Major famine in Ethiopia

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

1990: Trend towards democratic governance

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

1990: Africa's Population in 1990

In 1990, the population of Africa had increased to 630 million.

1990: African countries succeeded in obtaining rapid economic growth

Prior to 1990, only a handful of African countries succeeded in obtaining rapid economic growth.

1994: End of apartheid in South Africa

In 1994, South Africa transitioned away from apartheid.

1994: Genocide in Rwanda

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

1995: South Africa wins Rugby World Cup

In 1995, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup.

1995: Start of Increased Economic Growth

Starting in 1995, Africa's rate of economic growth began to increase.

1996: Increase in Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

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

October 1997: Kenya Gains ODI Status

Kenya held One-Day International cricket (ODI) status from October 10, 1997, until January 30, 2014.

2000: Sorghum spreads to India

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

2000: Africa's population Surpasses the Americas

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

2000: Forest Destruction in Madagascar

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

2000: Increase in foreign investment

Between 2000 and 2014, improved stability and economic reforms have led to a great increase in foreign investment into many African nations, mainly from China, which further spurred economic growth.

June 2001: Formation of the African Union

On June 26, 2001, the African Union (AU) was formed with Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as its headquarters.

July 2002: Official Establishment of the African Union

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

2002: End of civil wars

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

2002: 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, it was estimated that the average poor person in sub-Saharan Africa lived on only 70 cents per day and was poorer than in 1973.

2003: End of civil wars and Second Congo War

In 2003, the civil war ended in Liberia and the Second Congo War which involved 9 countries and several insurgent groups, ended.

2003: Conflict in Darfur begins

In 2003, the ongoing conflict in Darfur (Sudan) started.

2003: 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: Africa's Economic Growth

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

2005: Poverty Levels in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2005, approximately 50% of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa, or 380 million people, were living in poverty.

2005: End of civil wars

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

2005: Second Sudanese Civil War ends

In 2005, the second Sudanese Civil War which began in 1983, ended.

2005: Peak of intensity of Conflict in Darfur

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

2005: Resolution of the Debt Crisis

The debt crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa was resolved in 2005 with help from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries scheme (HIPC).

2007: Spike in violence in Darfur

In 2007 there was a notable spike in violence in Darfur.

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

In 2007, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup.

August 2008: World Bank Revises 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, following the global financial crisis, pushed 100 million people into food insecurity in Africa.

2009: Boko Haram Insurgency begins

Since 2009, the Boko Haram Insurgency primarily within Nigeria has killed around 350,000 people.

2010: South Africa Hosts the World Cup

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

2011: Zambia's Debt Crisis

Around 2011, Zambia fell back into debt due to a fall in copper prices, as well as the mismanagement of borrowed money by the elite.

2011: HIV/AIDS Statistics 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.

2012: Africa median age

In 2012, the median age in Africa was 19.7 years, while the worldwide median age was 30.4.

2013: Spike in violence in Darfur

From 2013–15 there was a notable spike in violence in Darfur.

2013: Highest ever recorded temperature in Libya discredited

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

January 2014: Kenya Loses ODI Status

Kenya held One-Day International cricket (ODI) status from October 10, 1997, until January 30, 2014.

2014: Slowed Growth in Africa

Since 2014, overall growth has considerably slowed in Africa, primarily as a result of falling commodity prices, continued lack of industrialization, and epidemics of Ebola and COVID-19.

2015: Increase in annual GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa

Between 2000 and 2014, annual GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa averaged 5.02%, doubling its total GDP from $811 billion to $1.63 trillion (constant 2015 USD).

2018: Africa democratic governance

According to Lührmann et al. (2018), only Botswana and Mauritius have been consistently democratic for the entirety of their post-colonial history.

2018: Fertility Rate in Sub-Saharan Africa

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

2019: South Africa wins Rugby World Cup

In 2019, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup.

2019: Fertility Rates in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2019, all countries in sub-Saharan Africa had Total Fertility Rates above replacement level and accounted for 27.1% of global livebirths.

2020: Tigray War

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

2021: Africa's Population in 2021

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

2021: Global Births in Sub-Saharan Africa

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

2022: Most African conflicts reduced to low-intensity

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

2022: Morocco at the FIFA World Cup

At the 2022 FIFA 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

In 2023, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup.

2024: GDP Projection

As of 2024, projections from the IMF and World Bank estimate the peak level of GDP for several African countries.

2024: Africa population projection

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

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: Thebes conquers Egypt

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

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