West Africa

While an increasing number of OECD countries are facing demographic decline and an ageing population, West Africa’s population is growing rapidly. From 315 million inhabitants in 2007, the population should reach 480 million by 2030 and between 650 and 700 million by 2050. The population is mostly young, indeed very young (60% are under 25 years of age) and will remain so until 2050. Certainly, the growing number of young people could be a valuable resource but it will also increase pressure on the environment and social services.

Despite decades of crises and conflict, much has changed. Democracy has progressed more than regressed and decentralisation policies overall underway. The urban network is increasingly dense; the informal economy and the private sector have demonstrated a remarkable capacity to adapt. Civil society organisations and the media have significantly developed over the last years.

West Africa remains one of the poorest and most vulnerable regions of the world. With the exception of Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria, the majority of West African countries are classified as “Least Developed Countries” (LDC). Nigeria (over 50% of the region’s GDP with USD 228 billion in 2007) is the region’s economic leader.