Africa Development Indicators 2011

Abstract

This year's Africa development
 indicators, which covers some 1,700 macroeconomic, sectoral,
 and human development indicators dating to the 1960s, comes
 at a critical time for Sub-Saharan Africa's 48
 countries and 841 million people. After a decade of economic
 growth at nearly 5 percent a year, Africa-along with the
 rest of the world-was hit hard by the global economic
 crisis, but it rebounded within a year. In 2011 the
 continent's growth is expected to return to pre crisis
 levels. The poverty rate has been declining at about one
 percentage point a year, and progress on the millennium
 development goals, while insufficient to reach the 2015
 targets in many countries, has been substantial. Yet, Africa
 faces some of the most formidable development challenges in
 the world. First, growth has been uneven, with about 20
 fragile and conflict affected states seemingly trapped in
 persistent poverty. Second, economic growth has not
 translated to productive jobs and more earning opportunities
 for Africa's labor force-most of which is engaged in
 agriculture and informal enterprises-and especially for the
 7-10 million young people entering the labor force each
 year. And third, Africa's growth could be faster and
 more widespread if it could address its most fundamental
 challenges-improving governance and increasing public sector
 capacity. A tool for learning, capacity strengthening, and
 accountability, Africa development indicators 2011 will
 continue to play a critical role in Africa's economic transformation.