A World Bank and Elsevier report shows the development of research in sub-Sahran Africa (SSA) from 2003 to 2012 by three regions: West and Central Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa (excluding South Africa). All regions more than doubled their peer-reviewed publications, with their combined share of worldwide output growing from 0.44% to 0.72%. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was greater than 10% for both West and Central Africa, and East Africa, and was 8.5% for Southern Africa. Health Sciences was the subject area with the most publications by region, accounting on average for 45% of the total. Physical Sciences and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) publications made up 29%. In Southern Africa, 45% of publications were in Health Sciences, 33% were in Agriculture, 28% were in Physical Sciences and STEM, and 16% were in Life Sciences. CAGRs were 4.5%, 0.2%, -1.7% and -2.6%, respectively. In East Africa, 48% of publications were in Health Sciences, 34% were in Agriculture, 25% were in Physical Sciences and STEM, and 15% were in Life Sciences, with CAGRs of 4.1%, -2.6%, -0.4% and -4.7%, respectively. In West and Central Africa, 43% of publications were in Health Sciences, 28% were in Agriculture, 25% were in Physical Sciences and STEM, and 15% were in Life Sciences, and CAGRs were 3.2%, -1.7%, 1.4% and -3.7%, respectively.

Source: World Bank and Elsevier