The Demographic and Social Changes and the Urbanization of Poverty

Abstract

The African rural development is handicapped by low population density, long distances between most rural villages, and poor rural infrastructure. The average population density on the continent (77 people per square kilometer) is among the lowest in the world. Africa is still the world’s least urbanized continent and only one third of the population live in urban areas; according to the UN’s World Urbanization Prospects, low density and poor infrastructure are among the main reasons for the slow rural development.