Think the Earth

According to the ADI 2007 (Africa Development Indicators; using data from 2005) publicized by the World Bank on November 14th in Johannesburg, South Africa, Rwanda has extended its average life expectancy the most in the past decade.

ADI measures the degree of development in 53 African countries using more than 1000 indicators. They are divided into 14 sections, such as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), private sector development, infrastructure, human development, labor/migration/population, HIV/AIDS, etc.

Life expectancy in Rwanda has increased by 12 years in the past decade. In 2001, the average life expectancy was 38.99 years old, but it has grown to 52.73 in the past 6 years. On the other hand, life expectancy in Botswana has decreased by 21 years. By the way, the average in Africa is 47.2 as of 2005.

Moreover, according to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) rankings (ranking countries with over 4% annual economic growth) from 1996 to 2005, which indicate multifaceted and sustainable economic growth, Rwanda is the second highest ranked with a growth rate of 7.6%, next to Mozambique with 8.3%.

According to ADI, there has been solid economical development among African countries in the past decade. The average growth rate of Sub-Saharan African economies in 2005 and 2006 is 5.4%; the region is expected to achieve even surer growth.