why is africa very poor?
366615
Too many people, not enough water
70523
I would say Africa has a high death rate because they are always at war and also have high numbers of people with HIV and AIDS.
440872
AIDS is everywhere, even China, a very closed society.\n\nIn Africa you have so many other problems with poverty and lack of education, superstitions and denial.  \n\nPeople in America are in denial, too.  They think it "can't happen to me".  But it can.
1042681
Nigeria is most rich in Africa. Why you said? They are well read and always wanting somethings more than the ordinary like a- state-of-the-art kind of thing. They are blessed with everything from economic capabilities, to technological improvements as well as sports to mention a few. if you have a Nigerian friend that is proud of his or her country, they'll tell you better.
997671
Nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, generally characterized as poor, having economies distorted by their dependence on the export of primary products to the developed countries in return for finished products. These nations also tend to have high rates of illiteracy, disease, and population growth and unstable governments.
1096570
Good question.  My answer is that (a)the corrupt element controls the guns and the military and (b) the history of Africa is the history of TRIBALISM ('my people don't like your people and we never will'). Tribal animosities are encouraged by the dictators. Things don't seem to be getting better -- maybe the conern over the dark continent is just a waste of time and effort.
4534
the poorest country in the world accordin to UN statistics was Sierra Leone in 2004. It is a tiny west african nation lyin on the atlantic ocean.i believe the ppl live on average  $100 a year. sierra leone is blessed wit some of and if not the best diamonds in the world but is still poor. check out: \n The star of sierra leone diamond on yahoo search
187525
In the last decade, we have seen the birth of terms such as "4th world countries"...these are countries that are so under-developed that they cannot sustain their economies under any circumstances. Nigeria is still a sustainable economy since it has some wealth in natural resources like oil & gas.......\n\nI think know, the poorer countries are those that are recently emerging from civil war e.g. rwanda, somalia, sierra leone etc...their infrastructures is very impaired as a result of the war.
188191
the problem lies in the system. a system with check-and-balance is really needed in most African countries as corruption pose a real threat to the development of African countries. The other reasons are complex, such as ethnic conflicts, civil wars and corruption.
267504
The more "rich" countries have used and abused the more poor countries, after sucking up all their resources they leave them high-and-dry. Its so easy to ignore the rest of the world unless they have something you want, IE: oil, coal, coco beans, rice, cattle, etc.
235188
as far as i can tell cause the people who are in charge of the nations are corrupt and never developed their countries through investment and private enterprise\n\nmy friend is reading a book about how agriculture is why europe is so well off, that there are all these immunities that europe built up because of all the farm animals, africa doesnt have a lot of farmland i dont think, not as much as europe,\nso the theory is that germs else where the last 1000 years have kept other parts of the world from developing at the pace of the europe/america\n\n\nI think the reality is in order to have a successful industrial revolution people who have capitol, ie money, have to invest it in business that are going to buy the machines, etc.\n\nin africa i dont think theyve done that, over the last 140 years, had people who bought machines for an industrial revolution,  . . . because my theory is the leaders are using all the wealth for their own purposes
574020
Lets not forget that africa is looked down upon because it's citizens are mostly black people. Around the world people have been prejudiced and treated the people of this continent just horribly. \n\nThere has been many many groups that have enslaved/abused them for centuries. Is it because we have seen them running around in their jungle clothes and we equate that with the idea of this group of people is not respectable and therefore we will step on them?  Well we know the answer to this has been yes. \n\nEven today the world looks at africa and see's hostilities and corruption at every turn. \n\nRemember Idi Amin? Ruthless leader that killed hundreds if not thousands of his own citizens.\n\nNot to mention stories of genocide that pop up every few years.\n\nI have heard stories of when slavery was legal that when countries went to africa to get slaves, their own leaders gladly sold them. \n\nAll this adds up to a contintent that has been abused by just about everyone, and the prejudice and bigotry to this day is prevalent. \n\nWhay can africa do to turn this all around? The answer has to be education, it would give them the ability to compete at a greater level with the rest of the world. It would help cut down on the spread of disease. A.I.D.S could be slowed down, as we all know A.I.D.S. is way out of control. I have heard estimates that some countries have as much as 30% infection rate.\n\nIf we can educate, run out the prejudice, run out the corruption, and most likely economic relief. Africa can turn things around.
23440
It goes by the world systems theory of dependency.  This says that a country in debt will always be in debt, third-world countries will always be third-world, and elite economic countries will always be elite.  See, Africa has to accept loans and aid from the economic "North", or richer countries, to pay off other loans.  This just makes a vicious cycle.  The worst thing is, no one really knows how to fix the problem.
190308
I would say they are not poor, However, the Dictators, take all the money in the africa nations. Look at Zim for one africa nation, under the white govenment it was a flourishing country, however when margarbi took over and killed or deported all the white farmers it went to pot. Moreover this country is still rich and it shows because margarbi was seen on his ship eating rich cake and drinking really expensive wine. Margarbi is just like every dictatier he is rich while his people suffer. I watched a Documentry on this the other day. under the old govenment people called afford lux items now people cant afford bread. What do the western govenment do about this nothing because Zim as no oil. other African nations have dimonds and oil, for instance Sierra Leone the british forces are in there. However, one guy as got that the Amercian own the dimond mines i think he will find there mostly british companys set-up by the east india and african companys. ie de-beers\nt
476969
The poorest nations :\n \nTokelau  $ 1,500,000  1993 est.  \nNiue  $ 7,600,000  2000 est. \nTuvalu  $ 12,200,000  2000 est \n Saint Helena  $ 18,000,000  1998 est \nMontserrat  $ 29,000,000  2002 est. \nSaint Pierre and Miquelon  $ 48,300,000  2003 est.  \n\nThe porresrt people GDP/C (poorest is down) (this is average GDP/person)\n\nBurundi  $ 600  2005 est.   \nComoros  $ 600  2005 est.  \n Somalia  $ 600  2005 est.  \n Malawi  $ 600  2005 est.  \nGaza Strip  $ 600  2003 est.  \n East Timor  $ 400  2004 est.
534007
One reason could be because a lot of people don't even know that Africa is a continent and not a country.
1150535
Why restrict it to N. Africa. This continent produces nothing but wars, killings, tribalism and incompetent fools, fraudsters, sheep and bankrupt governments. They make me sick. The truth will hurt on this one. Mind you they get all the assist they need from morally bankrupt Westerners and Nations. Margaret Thatcher's son, MARK THATCHER, who now holds a CRIMINAL RECORD for his gun selling activities and support for coup makers, makes my point.\n\nSPECIAL THANKS TO Habblis for pointing out the facts as they exist.