These are the top ten African countries to live in based on HDI index.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of life expectancy,
literacy, education, standards of living and quality of life for countries
worldwide. Since our last of publishing,
the Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have dropped off the list.
- Seychelles
It’s an island spanning an archipelago of 115
islands in Indian Ocean, northeast of the island of Madagascar. Other nearby
island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the
west, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agaléga and Réunion to the
south, and Comorosand Mayotte to the
southwest. Seychelles, with an estimated population of 86,525, has the smallest population of any African state. It also
has the highest Human Development Index in Africa, but also the
highest income inequality in the
world, as measured by the Gini
index.
2. Libya
With the recent turmoil famously known as the Arab Spring, Libya is
still holding its own at the second position. Libya is a North African country
in the Maghreb region; it has an estimated area of 1.8 million. Libya has the
10th highest oil reserves in the world. In 2009 Libya had the highest
HDI in Africa.
3. Mauritius
Officially the Republic of Mauritius is
an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi)
off the south east coast of the African
continent. The country includes
the islands of Agaléga, Saint Brandon and Rodrigues.
Mauritius forms part of the Mascarene
Islands, which include the neighbouring islands of Réunion, Saint Brandon and
Rodrigues. The area of the country is 2040 km2; its capital is Port Louis.
4. Tunisia
Tunisia is almost 165,000 square kilometres
(64,000 sq mi) in area, with an estimated population of just under
10.7 million. Its name is derived from the capital Tunis located in the northeast. The south of
the country is composed of the Sahara
desert, with much of the remainder consisting of particularly fertile soil and
1,300 kilometres (810 mi) of coastline.
5. Algeria
With a total area
of 2,381,741 square kilometres (919,595 sq mi), Algeria is the tenth-largest
country in the world and the largest in Africa, after the secession of South
Sudan on the 9th of July 2011 from Sudan, the latter being
the former biggest country in Africa. The country is bordered in the
northeast by Tunisia, in the east by Libya, in the west by Morocco,
in the southwest by Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Mali, in the
southeast by Niger, and in the north by the Mediterranean Sea. As of
2012, Algeria has an estimated population of 37.1 million. Algeria
is a member of the African Union, the Arab League, OPEC and the United Nations, and is a founding member of the Arab Maghreb Union.
6.
Gabon
Low population density, abundant petroleum,
and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the most prosperous countries in Sub-Saharan
Africa. Gabon's economy is dominated by oil. Oil revenues comprise roughly 46%
of the government's budget, 43% of gross domestic product (GDP), and 81% of
exports. Oil production is now declining rapidly from its high point of 370,000
barrels per day in 1997. Some estimates suggest that Gabonese oil will be
expended by 2025. In spite of the decreasing oil revenues, planning is only now
beginning for an after-oil scenario.
7. Egypt
Egypt has one of the longest histories of any modern state, having
been continuously inhabited since the 10th millennium BCE. Its
monuments, such as the Giza pyramid complex and
its Great Sphinx, were constructed by its ancient
civilization, which was one of the most advanced of its time. Its ancient
ruins, such as those of Memphis, Thebes, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings outside Luxor,
are a significant focus of archaeological study and popular interest. Egypt's
rich cultural legacy, as well as the attraction of its Red
Sea Riviera, has made tourism a vital part of the economy, employing about 12% of the country's
workforce.
8. Botswana
A
mid-sized country of just over two million people, Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Botswana was
one of the poorest countries in Africa when it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, with a GDP per capita of
about US$70. Botswana has since transformed itself, becoming one of the
fastest-growing economies in the world to a GDP (purchasing power parity) per
capita of about $14,000. The country also has a strong tradition as a representative democracy.
9.
Namibia
Namibia has a population of 2.1 million people
and a stable multi-party parliamentary democracy. Agriculture, herding, tourism and the mining industry – including mining for gem diamonds, uranium, gold, silver, and base metals – form the backbone of Namibia's economy. Given the
presence of the arid Namib Desert, it is one of the least densely populated countries in the world.
Approximately half the population live below the international poverty line.
10. South Africa
South Africa is ranked as an upper-middle income
economy by the World Bank. It has the largest economy in Africa and the 28th-largest
in the world. By purchasing power parity, South Africa has the 5th highest per capita income in Africa. It is considered a newly industrialised country.
However, about a quarter of the population is unemployed and lives on less than US $1.25 a day.
