Africa is well known for being an underdeveloped and impoverished continent, but for much of human history Africa has been a prosperous place. Africa is growing rapidly and with a population of over 1 billion people, Africa’s future is looking great, but looking back at the past poses the question: Why is Africa not as developed as the west?

One explanation for why Africa is still poor today is that for centuries African countries were governed as colonies under the British, French, Portuguese, and Belgian rule. Many only gained independence in the late 1900s, with some nations only becoming independent through war. Colonial rule stunted Africa’s growth for centuries. 

Another reason for Africa’s poverty is corruption among its leaders. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest average corruption rate on earth and nations like South Sudan and Somalia are one of the worst places to live in the world; but the future is bright for Africa, with many growing industries,  Africa has potential to become an industrial power within the century.