14 facts you should know about Africa

1. The total Gross Domestic Product for all African countries amounted to roughly $5.2 trillion in 2013

2. Nigeria earned top seed in Gross Domestic Product for 2014, with an estimated US$ 521.803 Billion. Nigeria has also largest population in Sub-Saharan Africa (158.4 million people) and accounts for 19% of the continent’s total population.

3. South Africa’s and Nigeria’s GDP in nominal prices comprised about 50% of total Sub-Saharan African’s GDP.

4. Exports from Africa were worth about US$581.8 billion in 2013, up 58.7% since 2009. African exports represent an estimated 3.2% of total world exports

5. SSA experienced an increase in both exports and imports. Exports increased from $300 billion in 2009 to $375 billion in 2010, a 25% increase; while imports increased from $330 billion in 2008 to $379 billion in 2010, a 15% increase.

6. In 21% of Sub-Saharan African countries, one or two products accounts for at least 75% of total exports.

7. In 2012, the total volume of China-Africa trade reached US$198.49 billion, a year-on-year growth of 19.3%. Of this, US$85.319 billion consisted of China’s exports to Africa, up 16.7%, and US$113.171 billion was contributed by China’s imports from Africa

8. Total US two- way goods with SSA was US$63 Billion in 2013, exports to Africa accounted for US$24 Billion while goods exported from Africa $39 Billion

9. The largest recipient of net official development assistance (ODA) in Sub-Saharan Africa received an amount 72 times larger than the smallest recipient.The largest recipient is Democratic Republic of Congo (US $3,543 million), and the smallest is São Tomé and Príncipe (US $49 million).

10. Tanzania has the highest proportion of women aged 15-24 in its labor force (81%); Mauritania had the lowest (22%): Equatorial Guinea has the highest proportion of men aged 15-24 in its labor force (88%); Gabon has the lowest (27%).

11. Rwanda has the highest number of women in national parliament with 56% of total seats. Comoros has the lowest with 3%. (MDG 3)

12. 27 countries have their female participation rates higher than the SSA average (64.3 percent). Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique and Rwanda have higher female participation rates than male. Mauritania and Sudan have the lowest women participation rates (29 and 32 respectively).

13. In 2011, to start a business required 160 days for each procedure in Congo, Republic; it took three days in Rwanda. In Guinea-Bissau the number of days reduced from 216 in 2010 to 9 in 2011.

14. It takes 18 days average time to clear customs on direct exports in Democratic Republic of Congo and 6.2 days in Botswana; conversely for imports it takes 45.4 days in Democratic Republic of Congo and 3.7 days in Botswana.