Comparing economies.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country. Is it the most prosperous country too?

This chart shows how Africa's 12 most populous countries compare economically. A handful of them have abundant natural resources. Nigeria, for instance, is rich in oil. But these riches go to very few Nigerians.

The chart also compares the same 12 countries with the United States. Study the chart, then answer the questions. The answers are in your Teacher's Edition.

                             PER      UNEMPLOYMENT      POPULATION
COUNTRY                    CAPITA         RATE          BELOW THE
                            GDP *                      POVERTY LINE

Algeria                     $7,600        15.7%           25.0%
Congo, Dem. Rep. of the       $700   NA (information        NA
                                     not available)
Egypt                       $4,200        10.3%           20.0%
Ethiopia                    $1,000         NA             38.7%
Ghana                       $2,700        20.0%           31.4%
Kenya                       $1,200        40.0%           50.0%
Morocco                     $4,600        7.7%            19.0%
Nigeria                     $1,500        5.8%            60.0%
South Africa               $13,300        25.5%           50.0%
Sudan                       $2,400        18.7%           40.0%
Tanzania                      $800         NA             36.0%
Uganda                      $1,900         NA             35.0%
United States              $44,000        4.8%            12.0%

* GDP stands for gross domestic product; per capita means per person.
The amount is the value of all items produced by a country in a year,
divided by the population. It often is used as a measure of a
nation's wealth.

SOURCE: The World Fact Book 2007 (Central
Intelligence Agency); data as of September 24, 2007

QUESTIONS

1. Which African country's economy produced the most, in dollars per person? --

2. Which produced the least? --

3. What is the difference between the two, in dollars? --

4. Which African country has the highest unemployment rate? --

5. Which has the lowest? --

6. Which African country has the highest percentage of people living below the poverty line? --

7. Does the African country with the highest per capita GDP also have the smallest percentage of people living in poverty? --

8. Which African country has the highest percentage of its people living above the poverty line? --

9. Compare the per capita GDP of the U.S. with that of the richest African country listed in the table. Which is higher, and by how much? --

10. Which African country has an unemployment rate closest to that in the U.S.? --

1. South Africa 

2. Democratic Republic of the Congo 

3. $12,600 (South Africa $13,300 minus Democratic Republic of the Congo $700)

4. Kenya

5. Nigeria

6. Nigeria

7. no (South Africa has highest GDP, but Morocco has the smallest percentage living in poverty)

8. Morocco (81 percent live above the poverty line.)

9. the U.S., b9 $30,?00 (U.S. $44,000 minus South Africa $13,300)

10. Nigeria (5.8%; U.S., 4.8%)