why is africa such a poor countries while others are well developted with technology and such?

Answer 1

Mostly corruption and government mismanagement. Some of the oldest civilizations WERE in Africa, but may also have been mismanaged.

Answer 2

I have to agree with "ShiningThowra" explanation of why Africa is currently under miserable conditions. Her explanation portrays a very informed answer of current events. However, all cannot be blamed on ex colonialists either. They played their stated game of profits, and Africans let them walk on them easyer than Asians, South Americans... Why? That is essentially the question. Which, by the way, I have no answer to either. I must also take the question into a different time line: Anybody asked themselves how come they got colonised in the first place? That the Colonialists exploited Africans explains only part of their current misery. If you go higher in the time line, you will notice that they have not develloped as quickly as the Middle East and Europe. In my opinion, part of the reason is that there was no major trade routes in Africa: They were blocked on the North by the biggest desert in the world (sahara) and by the sea on each sides. No trade routes means no exchange of ideas. No exchange of ideas means that you will never challenge yourself, and would therefore never progress, wether for good or bad. The Middle East, on the other hand, was in smack middle of two major continents: Europe & Asia. This brought a lot of wealth. Adding to the fact that Europe, with its strcit Christian rules of law (I am not preaching here...) and the melting pot of Islam influence at their doors for 800 years, were able to take civilization a notch higher, and thus, end up thriving on other people's misery; which is why now Africa is paying for everybody else's riches.

Answer 3

Areas with well developed economies today are usually the areas where ancient civilizations were founded, the middle east, Europe, and Asia. America is kind of an exception because Europeans moved there and brought their technology and civilization with them.

In Africa no major civilizations developed most likely because there were no grains native to the region (rye and wheat in the middle east and Europe, rice in Asia) so that agriculture was never developed. No agriculture, no animal husbandry.

The combination of agriculture and animal husbandry lead to food surpluses which lead to the ability for some people to focus on tasks which they are talented in (crafts, pottery, home building) rather than being in the constant struggle for food.

When people are allowed to specialize and not everyone is working for themselves, a system of trade and barter must develop, and this leads to civilization.

Answer 4

Government corruption, poor leadership, the after-effects of colonialism... There are many things that factor into the equation. I spent a year and a half in West Africa, and asked myself this question many times. Sierra Leone, for instance, is rich in natural resources, but when I was there, it was the poorest country in the world.

If they could find some honest leaders, who wouldn't exploit the resources for their own wealth, and actually help their people, I think things could start to turn around a bit.

Answer 5

One answer. Economics. Natural resources and the ability to govern the distribution thereof. You also have to look at the military resources of said countries in order to define their ability to defend themselves from exploitation by countries such as ours. Another factor factor would be political will -as in the political will of other countries to help another develop within it's own boundaries and assets. Although I would like to see our country have an agenda that emphasizes humanatarian interests the political will just isn't there. Good question>

Answer 6

Africa is a continent not a country...is where the first human beings stood up and walked. The world's second-largest continent. Home to one in ten of the world's people, and five of the ten fastest-growing economies. Global source of oil and minerals — fifteen percent of America's oil comes from Africa — and foods such as peanuts, rice, coffee and chocolate.

One in two Africans is under age 20, but their futures are under threat. Africa is struggling under a triple crisis that keeps its people poor and its nations weak -- the burden of unpayable DEBT that soaks up money that should go to health and education; the epidemic of AIDS that is taking the lives of an entire generation; and the unfair TRADE policies that keep Africans from being able to sell their products at world prices and earn their own way out of poverty.

Sub-Saharan Africa, the part of the continent south of the Sahara Desert, is also the world's poorest place. Seventy percent of its people live on less than $2 a day. 200 million go hungry every day. This year at least a million Africans, most of them young children, will die of malaria and two million will die of AIDS.

The countries of Africa inherited from colonialism economies highly dependent on the export of a few primary products. The European powers did little to develop Africa's infrastructure other than to expedite export of raw materials to the advanced capitalist countries.

After independence, corporations based in the former colonial metropolis continued to own and operate these major export industries, and little capital was invested in other sectors. Monopolisation of international marketing by multinational corporations kept prices paid to African countries to an absolute minimum.

In most cases, governments in the newly independent nations of Africa did not challenge this control by foreign companies. The ruling elites, often having been directly fostered by the colonial power, formed a close alliance with these imperialist companies and their governments.

Too poor to raise their own capital for investment, and with most of the profits generated by foreign companies exported, African countries were unable to diversify their economies.

Primary commodities account for more than 90% of the continent's exports. Only five basic commodities account for almost 75% of exports. Most sub-Saharan economies depend on no more than three export commodities for 80% of their total exports, making them especially vulnerable to fluctuations in a world market over which they have no control.

World primary commodity prices collapsed beginning in the mid-1970s. Prices for Africa's most important commodities have fallen almost 50% since 1980. In 1986, average real commodity prices were at their lowest level in this century. They have continued to fall.

As a result of the massive drop in export earnings, African countries were forced to borrow heavily from Western governments, banks and institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in order to buy essential imports (often staple foods).

So, I guess it's our fault Africa is in such poverty!!!

Answer 7

Because they don't have as many resources as they need. Plus countries that have vast amount of resources really don't help out as much as they should either.

Answer 8

Look at their leader, geographic, people and sometime climate of the country.