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West Africa has how many countries?
See how many countries are in West Africa, which includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea. And there are many more; continue reading for more information.
As a result, the West Africa UN subregion includes nations such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Post-colonial civil wars in the region have a long history of stifling economic expansion. In recent years, the signing of treaties has aided in the establishment of widespread peace.
The African Development Bank Group and the African Union’s country divisions are two more important sources.
Check Out How Many Countries There Are in West Africa.
Africa is continually changing, both economically and socially. West Africa is the portion of the continent that is changing the fastest.
They have a significant impact on the continent's expansion. The capitals of West African countries are listed below.
1. The Republic of Guinea
Several nations in West Africa speak French, including Guinea. They restored the GNF as Guinea’s currency in 1985 after being discontinued in 1959 to replace the CFA franc. The 100-franc note is the smallest denomination in use because of its decreased purchasing power.
2. The Republic of the Niger
On the list of nations in West Africa is featured the Republic of Niger. It is one of the eight West African nations that utilise the CFA franc. On the east bank of the Niger River is the city of Niamey. This city is home to the largest dinosaur graveyard in Africa.
3. The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
Because of French colonial control, Côte d’Ivoire is one of the many West African States that speak French. Cote d’Ivoire, formerly known as Ivory Coast, adopted the CFA franc as its official currency in 1986.
The French administration designated as the capital Abidjan in 1933, and this status remained unchanged after independence. The first president of Côte d’Ivoire is linked to the nation’s second capital.
4. The Federal Republic of Nigeria
Lagos and Ibadan, both in Nigeria, are two of the three biggest cities in West Africa, although Abuja serves as the nation’s capital because of its central location.
The Naira debuted in 1973 January. Each kobo in Nigerian currency is worth one naira. Higher-value Kobo coins are composed of cupro-nickel, whereas lower-value coins are made of bronze.
5. The Islamic Republic of Mauritania
The old ouguiya replaced the CFA franc at a conversion rate of 1 old ouguiya to 5 francs. 100, 200, and 1,000-ouguiya bills were first issued by the Central Bank of Mauritania in 1973.
However, in December 2017, the currency underwent a re-denomination at a rate of 1:10. In 2018, it released the new ouguiya, replacing the old one at a ratio of 1 new to 10 old. They contain five khoums in each ouguiya.
6. The Republic of Mali
Mali also makes use of the CFA franc of West Africa. The nation’s capital is situated close to the rapids that separate the upper and middle Niger basins on the Niger River. The Old Age Period saw settlements in Bamako, one of the top ten largest towns in West Africa.
The north is more developed than the south because the city originated on the northern bank of the river. As a result, we created bridges to link the two portions.
7. The Republic of Burkina Faso
Africa’s landlocked nations include Burkina Faso. Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Niger, Mali, and Togo are its neighbours. The short form of Ouagadougou is Ouaga, but its residents prefer Ouagalais.
The Mogho Naaba palace served as the focal point of the city, which is on the central plateau. Ouagadougou served as the capital of the Mossi Kingdoms, the Upper Volta Kingdom, and the Kingdoms of Burkina Faso during the pre-colonial era.
8. The Republic of Ghana
Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, replaced the shillings, pounds, and pence with Cedi notes and Pesewa coins in July 1965.
Following the military takeover in February 1966, the new authorities planned to establish the “new cedi” and remove Nkrumah’s portrait from the banknotes. In 2007, they launched the third one because of extreme inflation.
9. The Republic of Senegal
The Atlantic port of Dakar, Senegal, is on the Cap-Vert peninsula. When the Portuguese established a base for the Atlantic slave traffic on Gorée island, one of Dakar’s islands, they found the city in the 15th century.
The island was seized by France in 1677, and by the 19th century, it had become an important regional port and city for its colonial empire.
Dakar replaced the capital of French West Africa Saint-Louis in 1902, and from 1959 to 1960, Mali Federation’s capital was Dakar.
10. The Republic of Benin
Porto-Novo is home too many magnificent colonial structures. Before being converted, the Great Mosque, built in the Brazilian style, was an old church. It features costumes and musical instruments that honour Afro-Brazilian culture and preserve Benin’s history.
Petroleum extracted from the city’s coast is a meaningful export for Benin. Although it was found in 1968, mining didn’t start until the 1990s. They used the West African CFA franc in the Republic of Benin.
11. The Republic of Sierra Leone
They divide the Leone currency of Sierra Leone into 100 cents. Le 10,000, Le 5,000, Le 2,000, and Le 1,000 are among the smaller currencies still in circulation. However, the money’s poor value has rendered the pennies useless.
12. The Republic of Liberia
In 1943, the Liberian Dollar (L$) was first issued. In order to produce money and preserve its value, it established the Central Bank of Liberia in October 1999.
Because of the long-standing historical links between Liberia and the US, the LRD is in circulation alongside the USD. The nation’s capital was established on the Atlantic coast at Cape Mesurado in 1822. The capital city of Liberia is Monrovia.
13. The Republic of The Gambia
They introduced the Dalasi currency of The Gambia in 1971. It was used to replace the Gambian pound and is divided into 100 bututs at a rate of 1 pound = 5 Dalasis.
According to the original Dalasi, Bradbury Wilkinson and Company issued notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100.
Later, the country increased the denominations of its money to D20 and D200. The city of Banjul is on an island where the Atlantic Ocean and the Gambia River meet.
The city’s grand, columned Arch 22 doorway welcomes visitors, while the Albert Market sells vibrant textiles and fresh local produce.
14. The Togo Republic
After gaining independence, Togo never stopped using the West African CFA franc. The country’s capital is a lovely place to visit and even live. The colonial capital of German Togoland was Lomé city, which is on the Atlantic coast and borders the Gulf of Guinea.
Vendors at Lomé’s Akodésséwa Fetish Market sell animal skins and skulls as voodoo goods. A National Museum housing West African masks, jewellery, pottery, and musical instruments is located close by at the Congressional Palace.
15. The Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Except for Guinea-Bissau and a few others, many West African nations speak French as their native tongue. France, Portugal, and then Britain were the primary colonisers of most West African nations.
The capital of Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese territory, is close to where the Geba River empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
16. The Republic of Cape Verde
The cifro is used as the decimal separator when writing the Escudo. 50 dollars, for instance, or 3.000 dollars, for three thousand.
In 1914, the Escudo superseded the Rei, with 1 Escudo equalling 1,000 Reis. Currently, 1 Portuguese Escudo is worth 0.55. In 1998, Cape Verde Escudo debuted.
The Portuguese Escudo was then replaced by the Euro, and the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE) replaced the Euro at a rate of 110$265 Escudos for every Euro. In 1992, it released the third CVE banknote.
I'm sure you're aware of the number of countries in West Africa. You may leave a remark about this article in the comment section below. You can, however, share it as well.
Living in Costa Rica - A Juicy Environment
The word 'Pura Vida' is well-known in Costa Rica. It simply depicts Costa Ricans’ cheerful view and carefree attitude in life, no matter the scenario. The phrase technically means "pure life," although it might also indicate "life is good." Costa Ricans also use it to say welcome, farewell, or to convey that everything is fine and to brush off any negativity.
Based on the US Department of State, about 70,000 US expats live in Costa Rica, approximately 50,000 of which are retirees. According to International Living, Costa Rica is part of the top ten best places to retire. A year-round tropical temperature, hillside villages, calm rural areas, Caribbean beaches, modern cities, lush valleys, rain forests, Pacific coastline, and mountains are just a few of the reasons. One can retire in peace while soaking in the goodness of life and environment that the nation has to offer.
Cost of Living in Costa Rica
The majority of European, Canadian, and American expats in Costa Rica have far lower daily expenses than their home nations. Your cost of living, as in any other country, will always be determined by your lifestyle. However, in many ways, living in Costa Rica is less expensive than living in your home country. Fresh local fruits and veggies can also be found in its verdant slopes.
Many couple retirees live comfortably in Costa Rica with budgets ranging from $2000 to $2500 per month. For an individual to live in Costa Rica, the cost of living usually lies between $1000 and $1500 per month. All standard expenses such as transportation, housing, food, facilities, medical care, entertainment, and food are already included in this estimate. Real estate prices are also often low, particularly for North American-style residences. Prices for houses near the ocean and in urban regions may be greater than in rural areas. Housing is almost half the price of what it is in North America.
Costa Rica’s living costs lie in between cheap and expensive. A middle-class family with four members living in the safe Central Valley neighborhood is expected to have monthly expenses of $2500. The cost already includes children studying in private schools with a maid working three to five days a week. The family can spend more on add-ons such as cars and restaurants. It’s also forty percent cheaper in Costa Rica when you do grocery shopping.
Lifestyle in Costa
Costa Rican living is synonymous with a healthy way of life. Retirees choose to live in the country and enjoy a far more fulfilling lifestyle than they did in their home nation. You will be attracted to explore the outdoors because the weather is pleasant. Unlike in the United States, Canada, and Europe, where you must stay indoors during the winter, there is no time for hibernation in Costa Rica. There are a variety of activities available, including jungle hiking, salsa dance, mountain climbing, surfing, golf, and beach walks.
Costa Rica's abundant supply of fruits, vegetables, and fresh fish also undermines Costa Ricans' need for fast food. In fact, these food networks are non-existent in smaller and rural towns. The country’s wealth of natural resources makes every Costa Rican have a healthier diet and greater activity, leading to holistic development for individuals.
Besides promoting a healthy lifestyle, Costa Rica is also one of Latin America’s oldest democracies. The country has been enjoying low crime rates and economic and political stability. Costa Rica houses more school teachers than police officers; the country has not had a military presence since 1948. This highly speaks of Costa Rica’s excellent security. In general, Costa Ricans are happy, warm, and accommodating individuals. It promotes inclusivity regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexual preference. Most Costa Ricans practice Roman Catholicism as its main religion, with Jehovah’s Witness, Mormons, Protestant Christians, Jews, and Evangelical Christians.
Residency
One of the more known legal residency types in Costa Rica is retired income or ‘pensionado.’ This retiree residency program has been active for over forty years now. A pension of at least $1000 per month from one family member is required to qualify for this retiree program.
Rentista is another residency type where one needs to receive a monthly income of $2500 to qualify. The income can be in rents, investments, and other fixed incomes that are not wages from working. If ‘rentista’ is not suitable for you, you can also put in $60,000 as a deposit to qualify.
Finally, the investment type or the ‘inversionista’ allows you to invest $200,000 in Costa Rica. Investments can be in the form of a home, beach property, farm, or any other investment type that the country allows.
Healthcare System
Costa Rica boasts an excellent healthcare system. The country has been known as Central America’s most tremendous success in healthcare, even ranking higher than the United States. Costa Rican’s life expectancy is 80.1 years, just ahead of the US at 78.9 years and a little behind Canada’s 82.3 years. The country houses one of the five Blue Zones globally, specifically in Nicoya in Guanacaste - where residents live a measurably longer life.
It implements a universal healthcare program called CAJA (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social - CCSS). It is part of the country’s Social Insurance Administration managing 21 health care centers and public hospitals in Costa Rica. A resident only needs to settle monthly dues for the coverage of any medical care. The payment is about 7% to 11% of your income, which is somehow affordable. Approximately eight percent of the country’s GDP comes from the healthcare sector, and the Costa Rican government pays for seventy percent.
This medical healthcare program also comes with excellent public and private medical centers across the country, having the best of them in its capital, San Jose. Costa Rica’s primary healthcare clinics comprise an emergency clinic, pharmacy, nurses, and general practitioners as a backgrounder. Another evidence why Costa Rica is proud of its healthcare system is its five specialty national and seven regional hospitals, three general and thirteen peripheral hospitals. Its ten major clinics serve as referral centers for the primary care clinic. On top of that, there are several community and family medical services centers, vaccination, prevention, and promotion initiatives. Even private dental services are much more affordable here than in North America.
Population and Language
Costa Rica’s population is little over five million, 83% of which are mestizos and white, black covers about seven percent, three percent are Amerindians, and the rest are mixed residents from other foreign countries.
Suppose you are from a Spanish-speaking country, then you decide to move to Costa Rica; you need not worry, as Spanish is the country’s official language. However, many Costa Ricans also speak English, especially in the capital and coastal areas. The Cabécar, Maléku, Bribri, Buglere, and Guaymí are indigenous languages used by the descendants of the pre-Columbian inhabitants.
Living in a foreign neighborhood can be pretty exciting and fun. However, once you get settled in, you surely will encounter the challenges of being a foreigner. One of them can be the language. While most Costa Ricans speak English, they may find some terms, like slang, hard to understand. In that case, you may opt to use the country’s official language.
Transportation and Other Public Services
As a retiree, you surely do not want to be burdened by inadequate facilities and services. All you want to have is a worthwhile experience while enjoying retirement in a new place. Each Costa Rican home is equipped with internet, cable television, electricity, water, and other amenities a house needs. Fire stations and police services are strategically spread throughout the country to ensure immediate fire breakouts and possible crimes.
Education in Costa Rica is required by law, and every neighborhood has public schools. Regarding the country’s health services, the CAJA is responsible for catering to Costa Ricans’ medical concerns.
With the country’s transportation, the residents commonly use bus and train services to commute to and from work. Taxis and other cab services operate in the cities. Suppose you opt to travel by sea; there are private boats and ferries across the Gulf of Nicoya. Meanwhile, the Pan-American Highway connects Costa Rica to the rest of the world, either by sea or air.
Visitors can enter Costa Rica passing through four international aisports namely LIR Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, LIO Limón International Airport, SJO Juan Santamaría International Airport, and Tobías Bolaños International Airport. Meanwhile, you can use eighteen domestic airports across the country. Commercial ports are also available, four ports in the Pacific Ocean, while three on the Atlantic Ocean.
Driving
Road conditions in the country can vary from excellent to average. The roads in big cities like San Jose, the Central Valley, and other tourist areas are well maintained. However, conditions may change once you reach the rural areas. You can expect potholes and unpaved roads, especially during the rainy season. This turns roads into small rivers and mud pits. So if you plan on driving to explore the country, you might as well check the weather first. Whether in Costa Rica or any other country, it still pays to drive cautiously to avoid accidents.
While most countries require visitors to secure an international driver’s license to drive on foreign roads legally, you only need your driver’s license, visa, and passport to drive in Costa Rica. Your driver’s license is acceptable, so long as it coincides with the length of your visa.
Traffic rules and signs in Costa Rica are generally similar to the rest of the countries. Passing is not allowed on lanes marked with two solid lines, and hatched lines are designated for streets where passing is permitted. Speed limits are in kilometers and are usually posted on the roadside. However, you may encounter some roads without signs, so you might as well be cautious. The wearing of seat belts is mandatory for everyone inside the car, while children under twelve must be on a car or booster seat, depending on their height and weight.
Geography and Weather
Costa Rica lies between Panama and Nicaragua, which basically goes coast to coast of Central America. It has a width that stretches about 282 kilometers on the northern border and 119 kilometers on the southern edge. As you enter the north part of Costa Rica, there’s a thin, low line of hills between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Nicaragua, which eventually forms the high mountains nearing central Costa Rica and the Pacific Northwest.
The mountains with tectonic origins lie in the country’s southern area, with Mount Chirripé being the highest peak standing at 12 530 feet (3,820 meters). On the lowlands on each coastline lie the rainforests and mangroves on the Pacific southwest, savanna and forest on the northwest, and mainly swampy on the coast of the Caribbean. Meanwhile, the main rivers start flowing from the mountains and through the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
Looking at how diverse Costa Rica is, retirement living will surely be fun. If you see yourself spending your retirement days at the beach, this country is definitely for you. You can bask in the sunset and sunrise at the beaches on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. These are some of the most stunning beaches globally, and if you are into adventure, you can even try world-class surfing. You can also experience wildlife as approximately a quarter of the country’s land is composed of national parks full of spider monkeys, birds, and jaguars. Apart from that, explore the country’s volcanoes, wet and cool cloud forests, tropical dry forests, dense jungles, rivers, and waterfalls.
Delicacies and Cuisine
Visitors can discover the country’s history through its food. What makes a country unique from others is its cuisine, and Costa Rica is not an exception. The country’s cuisine is a mix of Spanish, African, and Native American flavors. The traditional and famous tamale and other delicacies made from corn represent the indigenous settlers, similar to other Mesoamerican nations.
The Spaniards landed in Costa Rica, bringing several ingredients, including spices. The African flavors were then added with other mixed flavors from the Caribbean. Today, the country’s cuisine is diverse and varied, with each ethnic group influencing Costa Rica’s taste and cuisine.
If you are looking for famous and must-try delicacy, you can have tamal, casado, arroz con leche, patacones, olla de carne, and sopa negra. If you happen to try Costa Rican cuisine for breakfast, choose Gallo Pinto, mainly made of rice and beans.
Security and Stability
Costa Rica holds the oldest democracy in all of Latin America. It boasts a stable government where citizens can vote and elect leaders every four years. Since 1948, Costa Rica has not had a military force in its territory, allocating the budget to other essential sectors. Despite the absence of an army in the country, it has continuously proved to be a safe and peace-loving nation.
The country records a low crime rate making Costa Rica secure for all its citizens and those planning to live here. Instead of the military forces, the National Police Force is responsible for keeping the country safe and secure.
It is also rare for Costa Ricans to experience extreme poverty as most of its residents are middle-class. At the same time, the wealth is evenly distributed among its citizens. On top of it, the country ensures an inclusive society, welcoming everyone regardless of gender, race, sexual preference, and religion.
Nature Conservation and Preservation
With its lush valleys and diverse forests, you can expect Costa Rica to showcase the abundance of nature. The country’s goal to continuously protect and preserve wildlife and other natural resources is commendable. The National Conservation Areas System (SINAC) covers 186 areas in the country. This includes 51 wildlife refuges, 32 national parks, 13 forest reserves, and eight biological reserves. Three of the 32 national parks are hailed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Twenty-eight percent of the country’s land area is under protection, this number being one of the highest in the world.
Costa Rica is a genuine leader in environmental conservation. In 2016, the country placed third in the Americas in terms of Environmental Performance Index and was twice declared the best country in the Happy Planet Index that includes environmental sustainability. Suppose you are into nature conservation and look closely at the country’s environmental policies; you will see that Costa Rica ensures to meet all of the five UNDP criteria to ensure ecological sustainability.
Planning to retire in Costa Rica ensures worthwhile moments in parks and reserves. Nature enthusiasts, campers, hikers, wildlife photographers, and bird watchers come here to witness nature’s beauty. The country houses about five percent of the world’s biodiversity, including beaches, volcanoes, tropical dry forests, cloud forests, and rainforests, among others. All these can be visited without the hassle of traveling extreme distances.
Sports
One can identify a country through its national sport. Costa Rica is famous for soccer, being its national sport. The sport tagged as ‘the beautiful game’ has done wonders for the country, having its national team play in five FIFA World Cup editions and even reached the quarterfinals in FIFA 2014. The country was a runner-up during the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Famous Costa Rican soccer players include forward Paulo Wanchope, who played for three clubs in the Premier League, and goalkeeper Keylor Navas for the French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain.
Basketball is another famous Costa Rican sport. As you explore the country, you will see pickup basketball played in every neighborhood. The country’s first appearance in the Summer Olympic Games was in 1936, with Bernardo de la Guardia in fencing. Costa Rica later joined the Winter Olympics in 1980 with skier Arturo Kinch.
Costa Rica won four Olympic medals by swimmers Claudia and Silvia Poll, with Claudia bagging the country’s lone gold in 1996.
Education
When Costa Rica abolished military force in the country, part of the national fund was allocated to its public school system, guaranteeing a universal public education in the country’s constitution. Students must attend primary education, with the government shouldering preschool and high school studies. Those who finish high school and pass Costa Rica’s graduation test service receive a Bachelor’s Diploma from the Costa Rican Ministry of Education.
The country has five state universities and over sixty private universities. The private ones are generally smaller, specializing in specific subject areas. In recent years, liberal arts and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) have gotten more interest from students.
As the country provides an excellent education system, its literacy rate is about 97%, and English is vastly spoken in several areas because of the thriving tourism industry. Other languages such as Mandarin, Italian, French, and Portuguese are also taught in schools.
Investment Opportunities
The affordable cost of living in Costa Rica drives more foreigners to invest and purchase real estate in the country. Besides this opportunity, it is essential to note that the country also has the ‘inversionista,’ allowing foreigners to legally invest in properties to reside in Costa Rica.
The country boasts many homes, from the highlands to the coastlines, gated communities, and large estates. Besides being home to thousands of retirees, the country also houses multinational companies, including Intel and Amazon. This is all thanks to Costa Rica’s political and economic stability. There are government organizations that can cater to any investment queries like the Costa Rica Investment and Development Brand (CINDE), Foreign Trade Promotion Institute (PROCOMER), and the Costa Rican Exports Chamber (CADEXO).
The labor force here is highly educated, while technology, the internet, and communications show a competitive edge.
Relocation
Moving or relocating, whether to a new town or country, always entail several considerations. Costa Rica is a beautiful and welcoming nation for retired foreigners looking to move. A reputable and experienced institution is the key to a smooth migration. Whether you are moving alone or with your family, we can tell you that we will discuss and exhaust all of your best alternatives, beginning with your visas, residency application, real estate purchase or rental, and all other needs.
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