Page 12 - IJPS-6-2

COVID-19 and development in Africa

Table 2. Cumulative incidence and case fatality, by major area of the world (as of August 15, 2020).
Continent/World area Population (millions) Incidence (cases/million) Case fatality (deaths/1000 cases)
Americas 1023 11167 36
Europe 561 3672 90
Indian sub-continent 1766 1786 19
Africa 1280 857 22
China 1439 62 52
Other areas 1661 2091 21
World 7731 2755 36
Sources: Population: United Nations Population Division; Cases and deaths: World Health Organization. Americas include both North and South America

Table 3. Incidence and case fatality of COVID-19 in major regions of Africa (as of August 15, 2020).
Region Absolute value Relative value
Incidence (per million) Case fatality (per 1000) Incidence Case fatality
Northern Africa 803 41 0.97 1.81
Western Africa 362 16 0.44 0.70
Central Africa 289 19 0.35 0.81
Eastern Africa 251 19 0.30 0.83
Southern Africa 5293 20 6.37 0.87
African Islands 708 12 0.85 0.54
Total 830 23 1.00 1.00
Sources: Population: United Nations Population Division; Cases and deaths: World Health Organization. Total is the reference category for relative values

Figure 1. Weekly net reproduction rate (R ) of COVID-19 in Africa.
0
and 2, with large local fluctuations. In five of the six large regions, it was decreasing since July and was close to- or <−1.0
by mid-August, with the exception of North Africa, where it seemed to increase again (Figure 2).
3.5. Country Differences

Country differences were considerable, especially with regard to incidence. Incidence expressed in cases per million
population ranged from 9 (Tanzania) to 11,433 (Mayotte), which is also the area with the highest population density of
all the countries and territories considered (728 inhabitants per km²). The distribution of incidences was fairly uniform,
showing a great heterogeneity, without any concentration around the mean.

6 International Journal of Population Studies | 2020, Volume 6, Issue 2