When it comes to answering the question why Africa is poor, you can’t start without saying that it’s not. That’s right, Africa is not poor. It comes as a surprise to those that are not aware of the vast riches of the continent of Africa. We deliberately state “continent” of Africa because some, educated and non educated, are under the perception, still, that Africa is a country.
If someone said to you, “The hot winter is upon us,” you would either look at them and run or you would calmly try to explain to them that winter’s aren’t hot. Well, we’re going to explain to that person that winter’s aren’t hot. That is, that Africa is not poor.
NATURAL RESOURCES
How can Africa be poor when it is the continent in the world with the largest amount of natural resources? It’s impossible. So, to be clear, the continent of Africa, based on its resources alone, Is not poor.
As stated on Wikipedia, Africa has large quantities of resources ranging from diamonds, sugar, salt, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, petroleum and many more. Africa is perhaps the most self sufficient country in the world when it comes to natural resources availability.
According to World Atlas, Africa has the richest concentration of natural resources such as oil, copper, diamonds, bauxite, lithium, gold, hardwood forests, and tropical fruits. It is estimated that 30% of the earth’s mineral resources are found in the African continent. Additionally, Africa has the world’s biggest precious metal reserves on earth.
OIL AND MINERALS
When it comes to Oil, it is estimated that 12% of the oil that is produced in the world comes from the continent of Africa. The leading countries in oil production in Africa are Nigeria, Libya, Angola, Algeria and Egypt.
Other countries in Africa that produce oil are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tunisia, Gabon, Guinea, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.
RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
According to Global Edge, The Democratic Republic of Congo is widely considered to be the richest country in the world regarding natural resources; its untapped deposits of raw minerals are estimated to be worth in excess of U.S. $24 trillion.
As for minerals, Africa has 30% of the remaining mineral resources in the world.
GOLD
As for gold production, the leading African country in gold production is Ghana. It is the 6th largest gold producing country in the world.
The country of South Africa has a total of 86 gold mines that inlcudes the world’s largest gold resource. It is estimated that South Africa holds 6,00 tons of gold. That makes it the second largest reserve base in the world.
Other African countries with significant gold production are Sudan, Mali and Burkina Faso and Sudan.
DIAMONDS
When it comes to diamonds Africa has three of the top 5 diamond producing countries in the world in Botswana, Democratic Republic Of The Congo and South Africa. Thus making Africa the largest diamond producing continent in the world.
COCOA PRODUCTION
As for cocoa production, there are 5 African countries in the top 10 list of largest cocoa producers. The number one and number two countries on the list are the African countries of Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana, respectively. The other African countries that round off the list are Nigeria, Cameroon and Sierra Leone.
OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES IN AFRICA
Africa is rich in other natural resources that include salt, sugar, cobalt, uranium, copper, silver, bauxite, tropical timber and tropical fruit.
CONCLUSION
The next time you hear the question why is Africa poor, keep in mind, it’s not.
And as always we like to close with a saying, quote or adage and today’s is from Steve Harvey (video below): What PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND IS HOW RICH OF A CONTINENT AFRICA REALLY IS.
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