COUNTRIES THAT HAVE LOW LIFE EXPECTANCY

EQUATORIAL GUINEA (50.10)

A major oil producer, Equatorial Guinea is the richest country

per capita in Africa but the wealth is distributed unevenly

and only a few people can benefit from the oil riches.

Consequently, most of this country´s population cannot

even afford clean drinking water and proper medical care,

which is also why 20% of local children die before

reaching the age of five.

MALI (49.99)

Home to about 15 million people, Mali faces numerous

health challenges related to poverty, malnutrition and

inadequate hygiene and sanitation. Mali’s health and

development indicators rank among the worst in the world.

Medical facilities and medicines in general are very limited

here. Also, it is estimated that up to 90% of Mali’s girls

and women undergo female genital mutilation which

often has fatal consequences for them.

CAMEROON (49.97)

Located in West Africa, Cameroon enjoys relatively high

political and social stability but large numbers of

Cameroonians live in poverty as the wealth and power

lies firmly in the hands of the authoritarian president.

Qualified doctors and nurses emigrate because of the

inadequate payment they would get in the country.

Apart from diseases like dengue fever and malaria,

the female population is also decimated by

inhumane practices such as breast ironing.

ANGOLA (49.62)

Africa´s seventh largest country, Angola has the same problem

as Cameroon. The country´s economy is flourishing but the

standard of living remains low for the majority of the

population and life expectancy and infant mortality rates

 in Angola are among the worst in the world. Epidemics of 

cholera, malaria, rabies, haemorrhagic fevers and tuberculosis

have had a huge impact on Angolans´ health.

BURUNDI (48.81)

One of the world´s most densely populated countries;

Burundi has been through uneasy times. Bouts of 

ethnic cleansing, ultimately two civil wars and

genocides during the 1970’s and again in the

1990’s left the country undeveloped and extremely

poor. Burundians often have to deal with weak

infrastructure, poor access to health and education

services and even hunger. No wonder this country

has an average life expectancy of just 48.8 years.

MOZAMBIQUE (48.57)

The Mozambique Civil War (1977 – 1992) led to a great

setback in the primary health system in this Southeast

African country. With just 3 physicians per 100,000 people,

it is very difficult for the locals to get even the very basic

medical care. As a result, both infant and maternal

mortality are very high while the average life expectancy

is the 11^th lowest in the world.

CHAD (48.52)

Constantly plagued by political violence and recurrent

attempted coups d’état, Chad is one of the poorest and

 most corrupt countries in the world. Chad’s cities face

serious difficulties of municipal infrastructure; only 48%

of urban residents have access to potable water and only

2% to basic sanitation. People living in rural areas are

even worse off as they often lack even food and basic

every-day supplies.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (47.42)

The second largest country in Africa by area, the Democratic

Republic of Congo is extremely rich in natural resources,

but political instability, lack of infrastructure and centuries

of both commercial and colonial exploitation have made

this country very poor. Affected by numerous serious

diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, Congo has the

world’s second-highest rate of infant mortality and its

average life span is just 47.4 years.