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 roughly 18% of the global population. Characterized by a young population with a median age of 19.7 in 2012, Africa's population is projected to exceed 3.8 billion by 2100. While it is the least wealthy inhabited continent per capita, various factors like geography, climate, historical events (colonialism, Cold War), and modern economic systems contribute to this. Despite its relative poverty, Africa's significant natural resources, recent economic growth, and substantial youth population position it as a crucial economic market on the world stage.

December 1905: First Indigenous African Cinema

In December 1905, Albert Samama Chikly screened his own short documentaries in the casino of Tunis, and is often cited as the first producer of indigenous African cinema.

1914: European Control in Africa

By 1914, European control in Africa had risen to almost 90%, with only Liberia, Ethiopia, Egba, Aussa, Mbunda, the Dervish State, the Darfur Sultanate, and the Ovambo kingdoms retaining sovereignty.

1922: Highest Recorded Temperature

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

1950: Population in Africa

In 1950, the total number of people in Africa was 229 million.

1951: Libya's Independence

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

1955: First Sudanese Civil War

The First Sudanese Civil War began in 1955 and lasted until 1972.

1956: Apartheid in South Africa

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

1956: Independence of Tunisia and Morocco

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 referred to as the Year of Africa, marking a period of decolonization.

1963: Establishment of the Organisation of African Unity

In 1963, newly independent African states established the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the predecessor to the African Union. The countries decided to maintain their colonial borders and utilized traditional power structures in governance.

1964: Organisation of African Unity conference

In 1964, at the Organisation of African Unity conference, newly independent African colonies decided to keep their colonial borders due to fears of civil wars and regional instability, placing emphasis on pan-Africanism.

1965: Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence

In 1965, Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom under the white minority government of Ian Smith.

1967: Che Guevara's assessment of African Revolution

In 1967, Che Guevara opined that Africa was not ready for revolution.

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.

1972: End of the First Sudanese Civil War

The First Sudanese Civil War ended in 1972.

1973: Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2003, the average poor person in sub-Saharan Africa was poorer than in 1973, indicating increasing poverty in some areas.

1974: Portugal's Carnation Revolution

Before Portugal's 1974 Carnation Revolution, Marxism–Leninism was fashionable in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.

1975: Emigration of white settlers

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

1975: End of Portugal's Overseas Presence

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

1977: Emigration of white settlers

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 after a guerrilla war.

1981: Berber word origin 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 in Sub-Saharan Africa was living in poverty ($1.25 per day), totaling around 200 million people.

1983: Ethiopian Famine

Between 1983 and 1985, there was a major famine in Ethiopia that killed up to 1.2 million people, attributed to the forced relocation of farmworkers and seizure of grain by the communist Derg government, exacerbated by the civil war.

1983: Second Sudanese Civil War

The Second Sudanese Civil War began in 1983 and lasted until 2005.

1985: Ethiopian Famine

1990: Trend Towards Democratic Governance

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

1990: Military Marxism

Even after 1990, there are some examples of Military Marxism, such as a militia established by Ernest Wamba-dia-Wamba in Eastern Congo in the 1990s.

1990: Population in Africa

In 1990, the total number of people in Africa was 630 million.

1990: African Economic Growth

Only a handful of African countries succeeded in obtaining rapid economic growth prior to 1990, with exceptions including Libya and Equatorial Guinea, both of which possess large oil reserves.

1994: Rwandan Genocide

In 1994, a genocide in Rwanda resulted in up to 800,000 deaths, added to a severe refugee crisis and fueled the rise of militia groups in neighbouring countries.

1994: End of Apartheid in South Africa

In 1994, apartheid ended in South Africa.

1995: Economic Growth

From 1995 to 2005, Africa's rate of economic growth increased, averaging 5% in 2005.

1995: South Africa wins Rugby World Cup

In 1995, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup.

1996: Increased Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

The proportion of people living in poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa increased to 58% in 1996.

October 1997: Kenya Gains ODI Status

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

2000: Deforestation 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

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

2000: GDP Growth

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. The AU is a continental union consisting of 55 member states.

2001: Climate Change and Public Health Incidents

In 2001, climate change started to be connected to a number of public health incidents in Africa.

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: 2002 Morocco Cup

In 2002, Morocco hosted the Morocco Cup.

2002: African Union replaces OAU

In 2002, the African Union replaced the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

2002: End of Civil Wars

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

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: 2003 Cricket World Cup

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

2003: Increased 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, and was poorer than in 1973.

2003: End of Civil Wars

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

2003: Start of the Darfur Conflict

In 2003, the conflict in Darfur, Sudan began.

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: Economic Growth

From 1995 to 2005, Africa's rate of economic growth increased, averaging 5% in 2005.

2005: Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2005, eighty-one percent of the sub-Saharan African population was living on less than $2.50 (PPP) per day, compared with 86% for India.

2005: End of Civil Wars

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

2005: End of the Second Sudanese Civil War

The Second Sudanese Civil War ended in 2005.

2005: Peak Intensity of the Darfur Conflict

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

2005: Resolution of the Debt Crisis

The last debt crisis in 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

In 2007, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup.

2007: Spike in Violence in Darfur

In 2007, there was a notable spike in violence in the Darfur conflict.

August 2008: World Bank's 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 on the heels of the global financial crisis, pushed 100 million people into food insecurity.

2009: Boko Haram Insurgency

Since 2009, the Boko Haram Insurgency has primarily been within Nigeria, with considerable fighting in Niger, Chad, and Cameroon as well.

2010: South Africa Hosts the World Cup

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

2011: Zambia Fell Back Into Debt

About ten years after the 2005 debt crisis in sub-Saharan Africa was resolved, Zambia fell back into debt in 2011 due to the fall in copper prices and mismanagement of borrowed funds.

2011: AIDS deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2011, Sub-Saharan Africa 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, while the worldwide median age was 30.4, indicating that Africa's population is the youngest among all the continents.

2013: Spike in Violence in Darfur

From 2013 to 2015, there was a notable spike in violence in the Darfur conflict.

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

On 30 January 2014, Kenya lost its One-Day International cricket (ODI) status.

2014: Slowed Overall Growth

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

2015: Doubled Total GDP

Between 2000 and 2014, Sub-Saharan Africa doubling its total GDP from $811 billion to $1.63 trillion constant 2015 USD.

2018: Fertility Rate

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

2018: Van de Loosdrecht Study

In reference to the van de Loosdrecht et al. 2018 study on the epipalaeolithic Taforalt remains from Morocco, which identified the EM35 (primarily EM78) common in north-eastern Africa but characterised the mtDNA (female lineage haplogroups) of U6 and M1 as 'Eurasian', the authors questioned the classification of these maternal haplogroups despite their localized and long-established presence in ancient African populations.

2018: Democratic African States

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

2019: South Africa wins Rugby World Cup

In 2019, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup.

2019: Fertility Rate

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.

2020: Tigray War

The Tigray War started from 2020 to 2022.

2021: Africa Population

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

2021: Population in Africa

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

2021: Climate Change and Public Health Incidents

By 2021, over half (56%) of the over 2,000 recorded public health incidents in Africa between 2001 and 2021 were connected to climate change.

2021: Global Births in Sub-Saharan Africa

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

2022: African Conflicts Reduced

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

2022: Morocco at the FIFA World Cup

At 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, UNESCO listed 98 African properties as World Heritage Sites, consisting of 54 cultural, 39 natural, and 5 mixed sites. The List of World Heritage in Danger includes 15 African sites.

2023: Africa's Energy Consumption

As of 2023, Africa accounted for just 5.5% of global total final energy consumption, with per-capita energy use more than three times lower than the global average.

2023: South Africa wins Rugby World Cup

In 2023, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup.

2024: Africa Projected Population

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

2025: African Sovereign Countries

As of 2025, Africa contains 54 sovereign countries.

2025: Highlight of the problematic categorization of Genetic Haplogroups

In 2025, David Schoenbrun, Christopher Ehret, Steven A. Brandt and Shomarka Keita have highlighted the problematic categorization of genetic haplogroups characterised as ‘African’ and ‘Eurasian' in North African genome studies.

2025: Projected GDP

The table shows the projected nominal GDP and GDP per capita (at purchasing power parity) in 2025 by the IMF.

2050: Projected Number of 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: Formation of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt

Around 2055 BC, the 11th dynasty, based in Thebes, conquered the others to form the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, and the 12th dynasty expanded into Lower Nubia at the expense of Kerma.