Africa is is the poorest of the poor and will remain so for the foreseeable future. However, even here there are vast differences in wealth. The following five countries have the highest gross national income in 2004.

Seychelles – $8,190…………..Mauritius – $4640………………Botswana – $4360……………..Gabon – $4080………………South Africa – $3630.

Of course, as with nations elsewhere, there are plenty above the mean and plenty far below. In very poor and smallish countries, the mean is usually higher than the median because corrupt millionaires skew the mean. Thus, we may reasonably suppose, then, that a very high percentage of people in Seychelles makes much less that $8190.

Although some countries are rich in resources, Africa does not attract lots of foreign investment. Much of the continent is just too dangerous because wars and marauding warlords are commonplace. Still, just a few years ago, 16 wars were being raged continent-wise and now we are down to five. Foreign investment can never take off while this madness reigns.
Nigeria leads all countries with a paltry investment total of $4.4 billion. South Africa is at the bottom with $1 billion. Cereal companies in the U.S. pay superstar athletes that much money to hawk their wares.

Death remains a way of life and Rwanda can actually boast life expectancy has shut us to 44. In 1990, it was only 33. This is good stuff by African standards. While most countries are undergoing economic advancement, not all are. Zimbabwe, for example, continues a downward plunge. Thankfully literacy has risen to 66%, up from 50% just a few years ago. With literacy usually comes higher incomes. We shall have to wait and see.

Corruption in African countries is even more widespread than it is among U.S. police forces – if you can make sense of that. That’s still another reason why foreign investment lags the rest of the world. This is not going to end soon, and by “soon” I mean in the next 30 years.