the end of the century. fhe presentation is necessarily broad and general and is intended to provide background to the overall critical probtems facing nost of ghe countries of Africa todav. A. Overvievr of the current situation 322. Aftica is the only continent where standards of living have declined over the past decade and are continuing to decline. As shown in table 58, rnost African countries have suffered declining real per capita GDP since 1980, and the low-incone sub-saharan countries have suffered large declines since 1970. 1/ The real per capita GDP of lhose countries ttas about 16 l€ss in 1983 than in 1970. Table 58. crowth of per capita cDP in sub-Saharan Africa. 1970-1983 (Average annual percehtage cha nge ) country group r960-1970 l9 70-198 0l9 8r1982 1983 .AI1 sub-Saharan countries Lor.r-income sub-Saharan coun tr i es1.3 0.7 -0.9-4,.0 -L.t-3.3 -2 ,5-3 .8 Source! world Bank, Totrard Sustained Developlent in Sub-Saharan Africa' (vlashington, D.c., 1984), table A.1. 323. Th€ reasons for the decline are cornplex and are to tte found in a nunber of inleracting internal and external factors. a||ong tbe mosc inportant external factors that have hampered African devetopnenE are the following: (a) the 1973 and 1979 increases in energy prices, ehicb absorbed a qreat share of Ebe forejgn exchange earnings of cbe oil-importing countries, (b) the recession in che developed countries, uhich reduced demand for exports of the African coontries and resulted in declining terms of trade of tbose countries, (c) Che reduced flott of capital and aid from the developed countries and lhe reatrictions that lbe latter inposed against the exports of developing countries which have given rise to (d) a very serious debt-servicing problem. The devastating drought currently affecting more than half of the African countries has Droved a serious blow and bas alnostA/40 /519 Englisb Page 170
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the economic situation in Africa, highlighting the decline in standards of living, real per capita GDP, and the impact of external factors such as energy price increases, recession, and reduced foreign aid. The text also mentions the devastating drought affecting the continent. Given the focus on economic development and the environmental impact of the drought, it seems most fitting to categorize the text under two categories.

**Category**
Economic development, Natural resources and environment