Poverty in Africa Essay example - 1470 Words

African nations regularly fall to the bottom of any list measuring economic activity, such as per capita income or per capita GDP, despite a wealth of natural resources. The bottom 25 spots of the United Nations (UN) quality of life index are regularly filled by African nations. In 2006, 34 of the 50 nations on the UN list of least developed countries are in Africa. In many nations, the per capita income is often less than $200 U.S. per year, with the vast majority of the population living on much less. In addition, Africas share of income has been consistently dropping over the past century by any measure. In 1820, the average European worker earned about three times what the average African did. Now, the average European earns twenty†¦show more content†¦On each of these occasions, my only thoughts have been that God did not destine poverty, wars and suffering for Africans, else Africa would not have been richly blessed with abundant natural and human resources. As much as there are very genuine disadvantages hampering our progress economically like: ? Overpopulation, this is so with any society that largely depends on agriculture, African families are often very large. Most of the elderly rely on their children for support, and as much agriculture in Africa is labor-intensive, large numbers of children provide much needed labor for plowing, planting and harvesting. However, overpopulation is a serious problem in urban areas, which have grown enormously since the beginnings of African independence in the in the late 1950s and later. For example, in 1960, 14.5% of Nigerias population lived in urban areas, that number had grown to 43% by 2000, and is growing at an estimated 5.5% per year, compared to a 2.9% national population growth rate. This is a trend that can be seen throughout the continent. ? Misused Money, Over $500 billion (U.S.) has been sent to African nations in the form of direct aid. The consensus is that the money has had little long term effect. In addition, most African nations have borrowed substantial sums of money. However, a large percentage of the money was either been invested in weapons (money that was spent back in developed nations andShow MoreRelatedPoverty in Places Such as Africa786 Words   |  3 PagesThere are many different forces that cause poverty in America as well as other places around the world. All countries and or territories have some type of poverty, No one can deny that. Different forces such as bad government policy, overpopulation, high standards of living, costs of living, environmental degradation, and lack of individual responsibility are some of the forces that contribute to poverty. The poor in developing countries are trapped. They lack education, good nutrition, and a safeRead MorePoverty in Kenya, Africa868 Words   |   4 Pages Poverty is one of the biggest problems that the world faces in present time. The poverty that takes place in more underdeveloped countries such as Kenya, Africa, is majorly affecting the citizens because of the diseases that are being spread throughout the entire state, the lack of medical supplies that is needed for each doctor, and unsanitary water and a very insufficient amount of food. The health and well being of the citizens of Kenya, Africa is horrific, many of the diseases that are spreadRead MoreCause Of Poverty In Africa976 Words   |  4 Pagesconcern with poverty in the developing world. Lack of money has been the major cause of extreme poverty in many countries of the world for a long time. This is the biggest problem in Africa. Many different groups of people are being affected by this. This can cause terrible suffering and possibly even death. Poverty is the biggest problem because it leads to poaching, piracy, and the issue with child laboring and trafficking. Poaching is one of the leading effects of the poverty in Africa. There areRead MoreThe Poverty Trap Of Africa1689 Words   |  7 Pages11 AP 22 October 2014 The Poverty Trap Imagine a small village in Africa. What images come to mind? Is it small huts in a desolate village? Or how about exotic animals? The truth is that although some of these descriptions are accurate, they tend to leave out the pain and suffering of people. Every day 21,000 children die throughout different parts of the world (Shah). These deaths are the result of poverty as well as the conditions that come with it. Being in poverty is so much more than just notRead MorePoverty And Its Effects On Africa1951 Words   |  8 PagesThose Who Judge Poverty. This word probably elicits the images of starving children in Africa with gaunt stomachs, ribs jutting out like the panels of a window shutters, and dead pleading eyes that beg for help, your help. 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Townships that are prone to violence and extreme poverty surround every major cityRead MoreEffects of Child Poverty in Africa1780 Words   |  8 Pagesof Child Poverty in Africa Throughout the world, children suffer and die every day from issues caused by poverty, a large number of poor children are in Africa. Poverty is the leading problem for the African children causing not only physical health issues; but emotional, educational, and social problems as well. Many of these children are very sick from the water they drink, not having enough food, or from extremely contagious diseases passed throughout their villages. Although poverty has theRead MorePoverty in South Africa Essay475 Words   |  2 PagesPoverty is one of the greatest problems facing South Africa. South African families live in very unsatisfactory conditions. The South African government works hard to bring down the rate of poverty but it also seems to increase as they try. The majority of the South African people are unemployed or else the breadwinner of the family looses the job or dies. In that situation the family has nobody to provide them with the basic needs of life. The children have no money to go to school and that alone