An Infographic: Things you need to know about Africa’s growing population

There’s a lot to be said about Africa’s growing population, I hope this infographic helps!

Is there anyone that gets stressed about the opening of an article or blog post? Maybe even a text message?

Type. Erase. Type. Erase. Sweat. Water. Train of negative thoughts. Pray…

The angel on one shoulder says you’ve written a post that is impactful and necessary, one that will motivate change, enlighten, or even inspire your readers forever. On the one shoulder sits the little devil (Kwaku Bonsam himself) with horns and a fork telling you, for lack of better words, “you ain’t sh*t.”

That’s the struggle to share a post.

I am sharing this to let anyone seeking to publish their work online know that it’s a common struggle but we do it anyway. Keep putting your work out there – you got this.

I should let you know that for at least 30 minutes before hitting publish on this post, I trembled. Even though I have done this a few times already.

Post Map

Africa’s Growing population: an infographic

I found a new program that allows you to build infographics. I thought it was really cool so I tested it out over lunch and voila!

Ocean Sand
Infogram

Cool huh? I think so.

What Africa’s growing population means

Africa is often described as the ‘new frontier’ for growth for many reasons.

Its young workforce is expected to grow younger. There is abundant land for agriculture (think food security). The uptake of tech and digital innovation is incredible. And, it has quite a few fast-growing economies – five of the world’s fastest-growing countries of the world are in Africa.

And yet, research and projections put Africa at the centre of extreme poverty.

By 2050, on the current trajectory, sub-Saharan Africa as a whole is projected to hold some 86% of the world’s extreme poor, with 44% in Nigeria and the DR.Congo alone.

Essentially, despite the continent poised to be THE place for growth and opportunity, improvements to livelihoods do not look as promising. That’s concerning.

What that essentially means is that Africa will not be able to reap its demographic dividend – if its population are not well-equipped to create a decent living.

Failing, thus, to invest in Africa’s young and their economic capabilities is preparing to create a precarious future.

We need to create millions of jobs to employ the millions that join the workforce each year.

Why? Unemployment can spur major economic, social and political crises such as we saw with the Arab Spring.

Countries like South Africa today battle with unemployment levels at almost a quarter of the population, much of which plays into the horrific xenophobic attacks the country has become associated with.

Africa needs true growth. Growth that creates jobs and allows people to cater for themselves and their families.

What does that look like?

African countries need to create jobs that employ a significant number of people and add value to allow for higher prices and incomes. So, we need to:

Create targeted business plans in key sectors that can soak up people and market them.

De-risk private investment by making capital easily accessible and cheaper.

Subsidize inputs in areas like agriculture to enable private entrepreneurs enter and operate in them.

Invest in research and development and link centers of knowledge production to productive sectors of the economy. We need cutting-edge knowledge, technology and skills to compete in the global arena.

Among others.

What are your thoughts on the issue?

Oldies but goodies:

Infographic. Sahara dessert in post about Africa's population in an Infographic.

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Noelle Wonders

Marie-Noelle is the creator and curator of Noelle Wonders - a blog created to pose questions, exchange ideas, explore power asymmetries, and humanize topics around growth and development.