A Youthful Africa Steps Up

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Much of the world is accustomed to thinking of Africa as an impoverished sideshow, accounting for only a small share of the world’s population and G.D.P. — but what if that is poised to change?

Experts at the International Monetary Fund have argued that we are entering the “African century.” I wouldn’t go that far, but they are right to point to profound demographic and other shifts suggesting that Africa will play a far more important role in the world.

A few data points:

Because of collapsing fertility elsewhere, Africa will make up an increasing share of the world’s population. Africa accounted for less than 10 percent of the world’s population until the early 1970s, but a demographic forecast in The Lancet suggests that by 2100, 54 percent of the world’s babies will be born in sub-Saharan Africa. Include North Africa and the share is even higher.

If those forecasts are right (and

Keep reading this article on The New York Times Small Business.

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