Gokce Ege Saatcioglu10 May 2014ECP3113How does Africa's rapid population growth affect global demography and economy?IntroductionThree centuries ago, the United Kingdom was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution ; soon after, much of Western Europe followed with massive industrialization and exponential population growth. This period marked a paradigm shift in both economic and demographic models. For example, Malthus' model for population growth has been refuted with new trends of sustainable population growth coupled with rapid industrialization. This trend would continue until the late 1900s, until Western industrialized countries began to stabilize and eventually regress in terms of population growth. In 1950 there were two Europeans for every African; however, with current trends, there will be two Africans for every European (The Economist, 2009). Africa is a different continent than it was a few decades ago. Many things have changed since the days of European colonization. Like the American West in the late 1800s, Africa is a promising but dangerous frontier, with exciting new companies and niche markets forming in every corner of the vast African continent. Some parts of Africa are still plagued by famine and disease, but new improvements in medicine and technology are making the continent's development from tribal to industrial more efficient and economical. Data shows that Africa's growth rate is outpacing any other continental growth. Its economic growth rates are also high. In fact, Africa is the third fastest growing region in the world, after East Asia and the Middle East. The high growth rates of the African population have certainly contributed to stimulating economic growth rates, but so have the increase in raw materials, paper and minerals; however, natural resources accounted for a massive 32% of GDP from 2000 to 2008. The modern African economy is a large supplier of raw materials to developed countries; however, the African economy can be very sensitive to demand shocks that it cannot control. In recent years, Africa's place in the global economy has been shaky, despite high growth. There is little diversification of industries, massive flight of capital and intellectuals, and declining exports. Some African countries have tried to compensate for economic decline by liberalizing trade and markets and improving macroeconomic management, but there are deeper problems that need to be resolved first. Africa must focus on reforming its institutions, rebuilding its decaying infrastructure and resolving the deterioration of its economic capacity before solving its superficial problems..