Life in rural areas at the turn of the 21st century

Living in the West African countryside at the turn of the 21st century no longer necessarily implies making a living from primary activities. Nor does it mean living in isolation from the rest of society, especially towns. Urban and rural areas are closely linked, even if disparities remain in terms of living conditions.

At all latitudes and at all times, access to health and education services is more difficult within rural areas than in towns. West Africa is no exception to this rule. In towns, 85% of the population now has access to drinking water and 58% to improved sanitation facilities, in rural zones these figures stand at only 45% and 28% respectively.

AIDS is no longer an urban disease. More than half of all people infected by the virus live in rural areas, where it appears to be spreading more rapidly than in towns.

Rural-urban disparities are equally visible in education, but also in access to markets, information, culture and innovation; just some of the factors that, when combined, explain why poverty is higher in rural areas.

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Life in rural areas at the turn of the 21st century