Resumen de Industry, Education, Development And Quality Of Life In African Countries, 1995-2020

María del Carmen Guisán Seijas , Pilar Expósito Díaz

• We analyze economic development of 53 African countries for a period of 25 years, 1995- 2020, classified by geographical areas accordingly to UN classification: Northern, Western, Central, Eastern and Southern or Austral. We compare the averages rates of growth of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Population and real GDP per inhabitant (PH) of Africa and the World for the periods 1900-1999 and 1995-2019. We highlight the great importance of Education and Industry on Economic and Social Development, having into account Population evolution (Fertility rates) and several indicators of Quality of Life (Happiness, Quality of Government and Peace, as well as other indicators related with Poverty diminution and increase of Health care and Life Expectancy). We estimate an econometric model of intersectoral relationships showing the positive effect that Industrial production per inhabitant, together with other activities, has on the development of Services. For the period 1995-2020, several African countries have experienced a positive evolution, but progress has been too much slow in some of the poorest countries, mainly due to low levels of average years of Schooling. We include some suggestions for international cooperation.