Although a great deal of attention is focused on Africa�s economic failures and political instability, a factual compendium such as this, the 16th edition of Africa at a Glance, serves as a reminder of the many positive achievements which need to be appreciated. This compilation has been issued since 1968. It has been prepared to fulfill the need for an up-to-date and concise compendium of published but not readily accessible data on the countries of Africa. Every effort has been made to provide the most current as well as authoritative information. Apart from presenting the latest available data, new tables, maps and diagrams have been added. Attention may be drawn particularly to the inclusion of new tables in Section Two: Poverty and Selected Risk Indicators. While the raison d��tre of the Africa Institute of South African is the conducting and dissemination of scholarly research, it is also concerned with the collection and dissemination of statistical and other factual data about the African continent. The present issue of Africa at a Glance serves the latter purpose.
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This is the sixteenth edition ofAfrica at a Glancesince it was first published in 1968. Compilation of the data for this issue was completed during December 2015, though at a glance it should be noted that more recent information than 2011 has been unavailable on several topics. AFRIAlthCoughAthe most authoritative sources have been used, various factors influence the comparability of statistics for the various countries. The data in this book should therefore be seen as indicating salient features and broad trends, rather than being accurate measures of differences between countries.
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A significant feature ofAfrica at a Glancein recent years has been subdivision of the tables to provide data for at least six African macro-regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa, North-east Africa, Central Africa, West Africa and the Western Indian Ocean.
Symbols used in the tables .. Indicates data not available or not relevant
Abbreviations GDP Gross Domestic Product GNI Gross National Income HS Head of State IAP International Airport NA National Assembly ND National Day PM Prime Minister PPP Purchasing Power Parity SEA Sub-Equatorial Africa SP Seaport SSA Sub-Saharan Africa