Final answer:
The question is about the population of Africa in 2008, with a focus on the continent's rapid population growth and the impact on socioeconomic factors and resource pressures. There was likely a typo in the figure provided but using provided reference material, Africa's population was significantly lower in 2008 compared to its population of 1.341 billion in 2020.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to the population of Africa in 2008. The introduction of a figure related to projected population growth implies the discussion centers on demographic trends and their implications. While the exact figure given (9.67) is likely incomplete or a typo, it is clear from supplementary material that Africa has experienced significant population growth, with the population reaching 1.341 billion people by 2020. Moreover, the student's question might also touch upon socioeconomic aspects such as urbanization, with the example of Ethiopia's population, projected to triple in the coming decades, indicating the formation and expansion of megacities. In general, Africa's population has been rapidly increasing, particularly in developing regions, which is poised to have wide-ranging impacts on the continent. The United Nations and U.S. Census Bureau predict substantial global population growth by 2050, and although Africa constitutes only 10% of current resource pressure, its burgeoning population is pivotal when considering future demographic transitions. The reference to continental populations in 1500 compared to those of Europe, Asia, and the Americas provides historical context to current population dynamics. In addition, the mention of the Central African Republic's GDP and its calculation based on the population provides a real-world application of these demographic statistics in an economic context.