Extent and Defining Characteristics: North Africa is very diverse from the Western Sahara to Egypt. This area is made up of costal agriculture grasslands, desert, mountains, highlands, valleys, basins, rivers, lakes and seas. These also can be some defining characteristics of North Africa. One major defining characteristic is humidity or lack of moistures, which is why it is called, "The Dry World". Then there is the history of kings, colonization, and dictators, oil fields, not being very prosperous or industrial nations and the Islam faith.
Physical Environment: The physical environment of North Africa as once stated before is very diverse. Western Sahara is on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. This area is made up of humid desert flatlands. Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, which are the Maghreb Countries, have the Atlas Mountains running through them. Because of the Atlas Mountain in these areas, this brings precipitation that is why there are coastal grasslands. In the coastal grassland area, these lands are some of the only places in North Africa where agriculture succeeds. Like in the Cap Bon Peninsula, in Tunisia, the most important agricultur product is orange. Libya is made up of the Mediterranean Bay or Gulf Sidra along with the Fezzan Desert in the western region and the Libyan Desert in the eastern region. Egypt is surrounded by water sources, such as, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile River, which is the longest river in the world, runs through Egypt. Since ancient times, the inhabitants could predict the annual flood, which was called life cycle; this is how they created basin irrigation. Today the basin irrigation, oasis, and the dam in Egypt contribute to the environment. Most of the region is desert and in the water areas agriculture and a way of live exists.
Population: The population in North Africa is 198 million people (2006). In Western Sahara, the population is sparsely populated. The major population concentrations for the Maghreb Counties are on the Mediterranean coast and the moist slopes of the Atlas Mountains. In Libya, the majority of the population is in the Mediterranean area and about 20 percent lives in the capital of Tripli. Egypt is the most populace with 75.4 million people, and 95 percent of the population lives within 12 miles of the Nile River. Egypt's population makes it the second most populace country in Africa and ranking it as one of the most populace in the world. These countries are continually growing mostly because they are less developed and moderately developed countries.
History: When the kingdom of Carthage was started, Eastern Mediterranean traders settled the coast. Then Rome conquered the coast about 4 centuries later. Nest, the Christian Byzantines had retaken the area. The Arabs invaded and conquered the Berber tribes and converted them to Islam. In the 1500s, the Ottoman Empire conquered the Arabs and had control until the 1900s. With the weakening of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, European powers took over its former provinces and made them colonies. France controlled Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia (Maghreb). Britain controlled Egypt, and Italy controlled Libya. Most of these countries regained their independence after World War II, with the exception of Libya in 1943. Egypt's independence was gained in 1953, Tunisia and Morocco in 1956, and Algeria in 1963. Although most of these countries gained there independence from the Europeans they so had to deal with dictators with absolute power and Communism.
Language and Religion: Unlike the landscape, the culture in North Africa is not as diverse as you would think. The natives or traditional groups and dialects make up a small percent of the population. The Arab and Berber people with the Islamic faith makes up over 95 percent of the population. The Islam faith, as well as, the two major sect Sunni and Shiites strongly contributes to the culture.
The primary languages are a group of languages known as the Afro-Asiatic languages. Other Afro-Asiatic languages spoken in North Africa include Tigrinya and Tigr'e. The primary language in this group is Arabic. Secondary languages in North Africa include French, English and Italian.
Conflict: With the history of dictators and the Sunni and Shiites disagreements, which leads to hatred towards one another, this helps brings about an unstable region in constant conflict. In Libya, Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi has caused problems since his rise to power in 1969. He argued for the elimination of Israel, and in the early 80s sought to overthrow the government in Chad. In 1989, Qudhafi helped sponsor terrorist attacks on the United States. The increasing growth of Islamic fundamentalism has given rise to incidences of violence in North Africa. In Egypt, the results of the Israelis annexation during the 6-Day War in 1967 have caused internal problems for the government. Then Morocco invaded Western Sahara in the 1970s, which has caused on going conflict. Since 1992, there has been an increased cycle of terrorism and internal violence in Algeria.
Population 2006 ( Millions ) |
Population Growth ( Percent ) |
Under 15 Over 65 ( Percent ) <15 65+ |
Infant Mortality Rate |
Percent Urban |
GNI PPP ( 2005 ) |
|
Egypt |
75.4 |
2.1 |
35 5 |
33 |
43 |
4,440 |
Morocco |
31.7 |
1.6 |
30 5 |
40 |
55 |
4,360 |
Algeria |
33.5 |
1.7 |
31 5 |
30 |
49 |
6,770 |
Tunisia |
10.1 |
1.1 |
27 7 |
21 |
65 |
7,900 |
Libya |
5.9 |
2.4 |
34 4 |
26 |
86 |
_ |
Western Sahara |
0.4 |
2.0 |
34 3 |
53 |
93 |
_ |
Egypt: In 1957 Egypt to it independence from the United Kingdom. Today, Egypt is the most populous country in North Africa with 75.4 million people (2006). There is 95 percent of the total population that lives and works within 12 miles of the banks of the Nile River. The economy has benefit from exporting petroleum that is found in the Sinai and the Western Desert. Egypt also depends on income from exporting cotton and textile. Tourism is one of the most important incomes, but Islamic radical activists have hurt tourist industry. GNI PPP of Egypt is $4,440(2005). Basin irrigation, which is a system in which people captured and stored, water in the basins for three to four weeks and drained the water back into the Nile River and plant the winter crops. This irrigation system made Egypt and agricultural country that ranks the highest of agricultural producers in the world. Natural increase of Egypt is 2.1%, infant mortality 33%, population under 15 of age is 35% and over 65 is 5%.
Algeria: Algeria has a population of 33.5 million people (2006), most people live in the coastal belt of Mediterranean climate called "The Tell". Algeria's greatest assets are petroleum and natural gas, located in the Sahara Desert. Other major products such as cotton, olive and tobacco are cultivated with great success. GNI PPP of Algeria is $6,770. Algeria was once a French colony and in 1954, there was a major civil war called the Algerian War of independence. Which was resolved in 1962, when Algeria gained its independence. Natural increase of Algeria is 1.7%, infant mortality is 30%, population under 15 is 31% and over 65 is 5%.
Morocco: In 1956, Morocco became independent from France. Most people live in the northern part of the country and half of the population is still dependents on agriculture. And Morocco is the poorest of the Maghreb countries. Morocco has a weak economy and a lot of people have immigrated to Europe and has population of 31.7 million (2006). Phosphate is the primary product and fishing is a growing industry for this country. GNI PPP of Morocco is $4,360, natural increase is 1.6%, infant mortality rate is 40%, population under age of 15 is 30% and over 65 is 5%.
Tunisia: Tunisia is the smallest of the Maghreb countries but has the strongest economy and highest GNP PPP of $7,900 (2005) in Northern Africa. Tunisia's economy is dominated by agriculture, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors especially oranges, grown on the Cap Bon Peninsula. The orange is an important crop for export to Europe. Tunisia has a natural increase of 1.1% and low death rate. Population of Tunisia is 10.1 million (2006), infant mortality rate is 21%, population under age of 15 is 27% and over 65 is 7%.
Libya: Libya was an Italian colony. In 1951, Libya became an independent kingdom, and in 1969, became a republic. Libya sought to overthrow the government of Chad in the early 1980's. Tripolitania in the northwest, Byrenaica in the east, and the Fezzan in the southwest make up Libya. The most populous area is in coastal lowlands and low highlands along the Mediterranean. Libya's most export is crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas. Libya has the highest natural increase rate of 2.4%. Libya's population is 5.9 million (2006), infant mortality rate is 26%, population under age of 15 is 34% and over 65 is 4%.
Western Sahara: Western Sahara has population of 0.4 million people (2006). Most of Western Sahara has been controlled by Morocco after Spanish dependency. Western Sahara is the least typical in terms of religion and level of industrialization. It is because of the few natural resources and lack of rain for agriculture. Therefore most food is imported. Natural increase rate of Western Sahara is 2.0%, infant mortality rate is 53%, population under age of 15 is 34% and over 65 is 3%.
Blij, H.J. Muller, P.(2007).Geography: realms, regions, and concepts (3rd Edition). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Bradshaw, M. White, G. Dymond, J. DeLyser, D.(2004) Contemporary World Regional Geography Global Connections. New York: McGraw-Hill Co, Inc.
Hobbs, J. Salter, C. (2006) Essentials of World Regional Geography (5th Edition). Thomson Learning, Inc.
World population data sheet (2006). Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau.
First submitted by Jason Jurey on Mar 8,1996.Then by Rachel Schuette on Nov 8,1996.Updated by Alena Kaplun on Apr 8,1997.Updated by Robert Distefano on 11-20-98. Updated by Stephen Kingston on April Fools Day, 2001. Edited by Karen Oyler on 10. Oct.’03. Updated by Hisa Shimizu and Britney Wesson on Apr 8, 2007