Latest news with #BusinessInsiderAfrica
Business Insider
12 hours ago
- Health
- Business Insider
Top 10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy
Despite being one of Africa's largest economies, Nigeria struggles with systemic challenges that shorten lifespans, including widespread infectious diseases, high poverty rates, insecurity, and a lack of adequate healthcare and infrastructure. Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy. The list is courtesy of the UN's World Population Prospect. For instance, Nigeria's average life expectancy of 54.6 years is a stark contrast to Monaco, where people live the longest. Most of us don't sit around wondering how long we'll live. But the average life expectancy in your country says a lot more than just how many birthdays people might celebrate. It's a powerful indicator of how well a society is doing when it comes to healthcare, living conditions, education, nutrition, and even political stability. Globally, life expectancy can vary depending on where you're born. According to the latest World Population Prospects report by the United Nations, there's a stark divide between high-income and low-income nations. Wealthier countries, equipped with advanced healthcare systems, cleaner environments, and better infrastructure, tend to have significantly higher life expectancies than poorer nations that grapple with disease, malnutrition, conflict, and poor access to healthcare. Unfortunately, Africa dominates at the bottom of the global life expectancy chart. Of the 25 countries with the lowest life expectancy in the world, 24 are on the African continent. This isn't just a coincidence, it reflects deep-seated challenges like underfunded healthcare systems, limited access to clean water and sanitation, high rates of infectious diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS, and ongoing political or economic instability in many regions. For instance, Nigeria's average life expectancy of 54.6 years is a stark contrast to Monaco, where people live the longest, with an average of nearly 87 years, a gap of more than 32 years. Despite being one of Africa's largest economies, Nigeria struggles with systemic challenges that shorten lifespans, including widespread infectious diseases, high poverty rates, insecurity, and a lack of adequate healthcare and infrastructure. Below are the top 10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy: Rank Country Life Expectancy (Both Sexes) Life Expectancy (Male) Life Expectancy (Female) 1 Nigeria 🇳🇬 54.6 54.3 54.9 2 Chad 🇹🇩 55.2 53.4 57.2 3 South Sudan 🇸🇸 57.7 54.8 60.8 4 Central African Republic 🇨🇫 57.7 55.5 59.6 5 Lesotho 🇱🇸 57.8 55.0 60.4 6 Somalia 🇸🇴 59.0 56.5 61.5 7 Mali 🇲🇱 60.7 59.3 62.1 8 Guinea 🇬🇳 60.9 59.7 59.7 9 Benin 🇧🇯 61.0 59.5 62.4 10 Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 61.3 59.1 63.4
Business Insider
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Top 5 major African cities with the lowest purchasing power mid-way into 2025
With the second half of rolling along, the issue of low purchasing power is becoming increasingly pressing for some African cities. Business Insider Africa presents the top 5 African cities with the lowest purchasing power mid-way into 2025. This list is courtesy of Numbeo. Pretoria, South Africa, ranks number 1 on the list. While some cities are seeing an increase in their consumer power, others are suffering from the negative effects of inhabitants' declining purchasing power. Many urban people in cities like Lagos, Harare, and Kinshasa are unable to buy basic products and services due to economic issues exacerbated by inflation, weak currencies, and slow wage growth. The consequences are extensive and extremely worrisome. In addition to restricting what people may purchase, low purchasing power also degrades the quality of life, impedes the expansion of businesses, and erodes the social cohesion of entire communities. When residents cannot afford to spend, businesses suffer. Shops close, eateries scale back, and informal sellers struggle to make ends meet. This sets off a vicious cycle: poor spending leads to low revenues for firms, which leads to layoffs and further reductions in household income. Furthermore, people with low purchasing power are forced to compromise on needs such as cheaper (often worse quality) food, substandard housing, delayed medical care, and withdrawal from quality education opportunities. This has a long-term negative impact on public health, increases illness vulnerability, and perpetuates poverty. Cities where people cannot afford to buy are of concern to investors. Retailers, entrepreneurs, and multinational corporations frequently avoid these cities in favor of wealthier areas. This prevents the local economy from receiving much-needed capital input, inhibits the development of jobs, and stifles innovation. A small few continue to prosper while the majority in many African cities suffer from poor purchasing power. This wealth disparity becomes increasingly apparent and unstable. People become frustrated when they put in a lot of effort, yet are still unable to afford good living conditions, which can result in social unrest. Low purchasing power is a warning sign as well as an economic indicator. African leaders need to face this truth head-on by the middle of 2025. With that said, here are the 5 major cities on the continent with the lowest purchasing power, as per data from Numbeo. Top 5 African cities with the lowest purchasing power mid-way into 2025 Rank City Local purchasing power index mid-2025 Global rank Country 1. Lagos 10.3 1st Nigeria 2. Abidjan 10.7 2nd Ivory Coast 3. Addis Ababa 12.0 3rd Ethiopia 4. Accra 14.4 4th Ghana 5. Alexandria 17.8 6th Egypt
Business Insider
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Oldest NATO states
NATO represents more than a mutual defense treaty to its member countries; it is a strategic platform for collaboration, coordination, and global influence. Business Insider Africa presents the oldest NATO states. This list is courtesy of Global Firepower. The coalition initially had twelve members. Since its inception in 1949, NATO has evolved into a complex alliance that shapes global norms, enables interoperability, and allows member countries to project collective strength diplomatically and militarily. NATO nations coordinate defense policies, standardize equipment, and carry out coordinated actions. This interoperability is crucial during crises, allowing forces from different countries to work effortlessly together. NATO also functions as a platform for political discussion. History of NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established on April 4, 1949, in the aftermath of WWII. Its founding represented a watershed point in international relations, establishing a military alliance aiming at guaranteeing peace, stability, and collective security in an increasingly polarized world. NATO was formed primarily in response to the Soviet Union's expanding power and the spread of communism throughout Eastern Europe. The war had decimated Western Europe's economy and left it militarily weak. As tensions with the Soviet bloc deepened, the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations saw the need for a united front to deter further aggression. With 32 member states, decisions require consensus, which promotes diplomacy and prevents impulsive acts. This system promotes political cooperation and allows smaller countries to exercise influence on topics that they could not influence alone. Furthermore, NATO enhances its members' global standing. Countries such as Estonia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia obtain seats at key security meetings as a result of their membership in the alliance, giving them influence far beyond their size. NATO also promotes cooperation with non-member countries and other international organizations to broaden its diplomatic reach. Importantly, NATO makes significant investments in technical innovation, cyber defense, and intelligence collaboration. Members gain access to cutting-edge research, collective security drills, and shared danger assessments, which few people could afford on their own. Essentially, NATO provides its members with the ability to impact global outcomes in addition to defending their borders. It represents unity, provides strategic influence, and assists democratic nations in advancing their common principles on a global scale. NATO is far from obsolete, and it continues to serve as an important hub for joint security and international stability. With that said, here's a list of the oldest NATO countries according to data from Global Firepower. The countries listed below are the 12 NATO countries that founded the group on the 24th of August, 1949. Oldest NATO states Belgium Canada Denmark France Iceland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Portugal United Kingdom United States
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Top 10 African countries making the most progress in infrastructure development
Across Africa, countries are making bold moves to invest in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure, the backbone of any thriving economy. Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the most progress in infrastructure development. The list is courtesy of Africa Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), 2024. Across Africa, countries are making bold moves to invest in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure. There is a clear link between a nation's infrastructure and its ability to drive sustainable economic growth. Across Africa, countries are making bold moves to invest in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure. These investments reduce transaction costs, improve productivity, and attract both domestic and foreign investment. Much of this progress is evident in the recent surge of large-scale infrastructure projects. Just within the past week, Business Insider Africa reported that the World Bank has pledged $1 billion to support the Democratic Republic of Congo as it prepares for the next phase of what could become the world's largest hydropower project. When completed, the initiative has the potential to significantly expand energy access across Central and Southern Africa. In Ghana, a new memorandum of understanding with the United Arab Emirates aims to position the country as a regional leader in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The agreement will establish a tech and innovation hub to support Ghana's digital transformation, a critical area of infrastructure in the 21st century. Meanwhile, Uganda is planning to borrow €500 million ($568 million) from lenders, including the African Export-Import Bank, to fund ongoing infrastructure development. These funds are expected to go into key sectors like transport and energy, which are vital to unlocking regional trade potential. South Africa, Africa's wealthiest economy, is also making strides. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his plan to boost the economy by launching major construction projects has attracted a record 238 billion rand (about $13.3 billion) in investment. These examples are just a few of the infrastructure advancements happening across Africa. Below are the top 10 African countries making the most progress in infrastructure development according to the Africa Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), 2024. Below are the top 10 African countries with the most progress in infrastructure development: Rank Country Development Index 1 Seychelles 99.77% 2 Egypt 91.43% 3 Libya 84.84% 4 Mauritius 82.77% 5 South Africa 82.54% 6 Tunisia 74.18% 7 Morocco 70.32% 8 Algeria 61.65% 9 Cabo Verde 51.51% 10 Botswana 42.13%
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Top 10 African countries with the most progress in infrastructure development
Across Africa, countries are making bold moves to invest in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure, the backbone of any thriving economy. Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the most progress in infrastructure development. The list is courtesy of Africa Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), 2024. Across Africa, countries are making bold moves to invest in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure. There is a clear link between a nation's infrastructure and its ability to drive sustainable economic growth. Across Africa, countries are making bold moves to invest in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure. These investments reduce transaction costs, improve productivity, and attract both domestic and foreign investment. Much of this progress is evident in the recent surge of large-scale infrastructure projects. Just within the past week, Business Insider Africa reported that the World Bank has pledged $1 billion to support the Democratic Republic of Congo as it prepares for the next phase of what could become the world's largest hydropower project. When completed, the initiative has the potential to significantly expand energy access across Central and Southern Africa. In Ghana, a new memorandum of understanding with the United Arab Emirates aims to position the country as a regional leader in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The agreement will establish a tech and innovation hub to support Ghana's digital transformation, a critical area of infrastructure in the 21st century. Meanwhile, Uganda is planning to borrow €500 million ($568 million) from lenders, including the African Export-Import Bank, to fund ongoing infrastructure development. These funds are expected to go into key sectors like transport and energy, which are vital to unlocking regional trade potential. South Africa, Africa's wealthiest economy, is also making strides. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his plan to boost the economy by launching major construction projects has attracted a record 238 billion rand (about $13.3 billion) in investment. These examples are just a few of the infrastructure advancements happening across Africa. Below are the top 10 African countries making the most progress in infrastructure development according to the Africa Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), 2024. Below are the top 10 African countries with the most progress in infrastructure development: Rank Country Development Index 1 Seychelles 99.77% 2 Egypt 91.43% 3 Libya 84.84% 4 Mauritius 82.77% 5 South Africa 82.54% 6 Tunisia 74.18% 7 Morocco 70.32% 8 Algeria 61.65% 9 Cabo Verde 51.51% 10 Botswana 42.13%
